A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (December 28, 2015)
Neither shall they say, ‘Lo, it is here!’ or ‘Lo, it is there!’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:21)
For the last few months we have written devotionals on most all of the parables of Jesus. Most all the parables start with some phrase that indicates this is a teaching on what the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God resembles or looks like. Two of the parables we have not covered yet are the Parable of the Talents and the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. These two parables appear back to back in the Gospel of Matthew and are very familiar to most Christians. (Matthew 25)
The Talent’s parable involved a man (Owner/Master) that was going to travel to a far country for an extended amount of time. Before he left he called his three servants together and gave them talents according to their ability. To one he gave five talents; to another two; and to another one. When the owner returned he called the servants together to give an accounting. The one with five talents brought ten talents; the one with two brought four; but the one with one only brought one. The owner was well pleased with the first two servants but called the third servant slothful and wicked.
The Parable of the Sheep and Goats makes a sharp comparison between those that feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, take strangers in, clothe the naked, visit the sick, visit those in prison, and those that don’t do those things.
Here are some key points that we need to see through these two parables. If you are not real careful you could interpret these parables as supporting a “works” theology. Jesus is not saying that!! You already know, or should know that we are saved by grace and not by works. However, if the Kingdom of God is within you there will be certain actions that will automatically flow from you. You don’t have to go to prisons, visit the sick, clothe the naked, or feed the hungry. You get to!!!! You want to!!! You are automatically drawn to those type things because of the love of God that is shed abroad in your heart.
The servant that made no profit said he was afraid and hid his talent (Matthew 25:25). If the Kingdom of Heaven lives in you fear should not be an issue for God has not given us a spirit of fear.
In 1990 we were living in Collierville, TN, just outside Memphis. I had a great secular position and Cheryl and I were ministering every weekend at either churches or prisons. Everything was running smoothly. Then one morning I went to get in my car to go to work and I found a 12 year old boy sleeping in my car. This boy was not a stranger. He was a friend of my son and his family had been members of our church. His mother was a strong believer that had recently died in a car crash. His father remarried shortly after his mother died and his step mother and this boy did not get along.
As I looked at the young boy I saw a boy that had been beaten, kicked out of his home, and he had walked all night to get to our home. I called my wife and told her to get him cleaned up and put him in the bed to get some rest and we would talk later.We ended up getting legal custody of that child and raising him as our own. He grew up to be a fine young man and great father of four fine children.
I don’t share that story to get a pat on the back. I share it to help you see a point. Eight years earlier I was not saved. The Kingdom of God was not in me. If that young boy had shown up in my car then I know I would not have reacted in the same way. I would’ve weighed all the pluses and minuses and been afraid to tackle what was ahead of us such as court fights, additional financial and parental responsibilities, etc. The Kingdom of God in me overruled all that!!!
We get back to a very simple truth. God looks at the heart, not outward appearances. Don’t ever be afraid to follow your heart! Use the talents God has given you to populate the Kingdom and minister to whoever God puts in your path. You will never regret it.
