Today in the Word for July 6-10

Today in The Word

Monday July 6, 2020

Is Jesus returning right now, and is that all that matters? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Jesus had something to say on this subject in Luke 19:11-13:

“…He went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. Put this money to work, he said, until I come back.””

2,000 years ago, many of the people of Jesus’ day thought he was setting up his Kingdom immediately. He tells a story in which the prince states he will return as king. He asks his servants to work until he does so. Those who expected his kingdom immediately were told to get to work. There was going to be a delay between his first coming and his second. And we need to hear the same message. Jesus is returning, but it is unlikely to be immediate for us either.

Trumpeting the return of Jesus is not enough. And announcing a date or time is even more foolish. Christ-followers need to work with what God gives us in the present. We can hope for Christ’s return, but we need to stop sitting on our hands and go to work in the world for the Kingdom’s sake.

 And that’s The Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.

Today in The Word

Tuesday July 7, 2020

How would you feel about being a king’s loyal subjects? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. As Americans we tend to bristle at being a king’s subject. After all, we threw off King George III once! Jesus in the Parable of the 10 Minas has a stern word for us in Luke 19:12,14-15, 27:

“…” A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return…But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ He was made king, however, and returned home “…those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them…””

Whether we want a king or not, we have one in Jesus. And he will return as king someday. The parable is clear about that and quite clear that to reject him as our king is an act of insubordination, and will end badly. We may like the idea of being our own master and throwing off every kind of authority. But Jesus will be made king of all humanity someday. We can become his subjects now or later. It seems to me it would be better to follow King Jesus now.  

And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana. 

Today in the Word

Wednesday July 8, 2020

A couple days ago, I indicated that it is a mistake to be convinced that Jesus has to come back right now. Welcome to The Word with Pastor David, and today we consider another mistake regarding Jesus’ return. Matthew 24:48-51 tells us this parable:

“…suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and …He will …assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Jesus is telling us that is an equal mistake to tell ourselves that the Lord may never return. That is what this servant decides. The delay in his Master’s return leads him to live selfishly and to feed his own addictions. He is derelict in his duty.

The parable makes it clear that Jesus will return. Will he find us serving others, or serving ourselves? Living selfishly is an ugly side-effect of doubting the return of Christ. Let us trust that Jesus will come in God’s time and work to further his Kingdom until he sees fit to return.   

And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly.  Join our Wednesday adult Bible Study at 6:30 for more of the Word. 

Today in the Word

Thursday July 9, 2020

Do we think God places unreasonable demands upon us? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Jesus tells the parable of a king who gives a mina (three month’s wage) to several men and tells them to put it to work. Luke 19:20-24 reads:

“Then another servant came and said, “Sir, here is your mina: I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what you did not put in, and reap what you did not sow. His master replied,” …You knew, did you, that I am a hard man…?” Then he said to those standing by, take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.””

When we believe that Jesus is unfairly putting too much on us, we stop working out of fear. We believe we are in a ‘lose-lose’ situation. But Jesus is addressing the man’s misperception, I believe. As with Moses and many others in scripture, God calls us to do something because he desires to work through humans. Exodus 3:10 reads:

“…go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

God wants to work his good through us. Will we act in faith, or hide out? Don’t be afraid.

And that is the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana. 

Today in the Word

Friday July 10, 2020

Can we feel sometimes like God is a hard taskmaster? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. The man in Jesus’ parable thought so. He said in Luke 19:

“…Sir, here is your mina: I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what you did not put in, and reap what you did not sow.”

But what did God say to Moses when he thought God’s task was too hard? Exodus 3:11-12 records:

“But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said “I will be with you…”

When it feels like God is asking too much, we need to recall he is never asking us to do it alone. He is offering to be with us all the way. He will walk with us through the most difficult of circumstances. He tells this to Moses, and virtually every other person in scripture that he calls to do his work.

God is not a hard taskmaster. And we are not advised to bury what talents and resources he gives out of fear. We are called to move forward in faith. We are not left to our own devices. He will be with us—all the way through.  

And that’s the Word.  You can enjoy more of the Word this Sunday at 10:30 at Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.