Luke 12:35-48 "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"
The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
I’ve already written, in a previous article, on (or rather implied) that the mega churches are perhaps more of a breeding ground for disobedience to scripture, particularly by the leaders of these churches. Perhaps a more accurate statement is that the temptation is greater. All you have to do is read about the king’s of ancient Israel & Judah or references in Isaiah, Jeremiah or Ezekiel in the Bible to see plenty of examples of wicked kings and watchmen over God’s sheep and the punishment outlined for them. As well, the NT is full of stories concerning the wickedness of the Pharisees and teachers of the law described in the gospels. The point is these types of men have always been around and there’s no reason, for a Christian, who stays in the Word, to be so naive to think that these types of men don’t exist now in the church. That's why it is so important to stay in the Word and prayer.
Matthew 7:12-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Think about this for a moment. Don’t just pass it by. What are the implications of this verse? Was Jesus off His rocker when He said this? Were these verses only applicable to the folks of Christ’s generation or, as with everything He said, is this eternal truth? Again what are the implications of these verses? This is important to the whole of Christianity, of a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Why does it seem as though these verses are either essentially, misread, ignored or illicit conceit (the few the proud, the Christian) from so many Christians? The implications are huge here!
We’ve all heard that tired saying which goes something like “If you saw someone in the middle of a fire and had the ability to save this person, would you?” Of course this is referring to our responsibility, as Christians, to spread the good news and thereby obey the great commission (Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit).
Basically, for the intentions of this particular article, I’m trying to underscore the importance of church discipleship, both for leaders as well as laymen. Why? One implication of Matt 7, to me, is that people we see every week in our church buildings aren’t truly part of Christ’s church. Many modern churches are set up, for the most part, and particularly true of the mega churches, to get folks in the door. They want the money these folks bring, as well as the higher status they get from a worldly perception of success in numbers. Sounds like a corporation, doesn’t it? This way the church leaders feel their job is done, especially if these folks continue to attend every week. Perhaps they feel the messages the pastor’s offer up are so in tune with the seeker that they will become Christian purely through osmosis? “Congratulations, you belong; you’re a real Christian now!” How watered down can something be and still remain as it was? I say watered down because seekers certainly couldn’t understand real truth, as written in the Bible. The Holy Spirit is obviously insufficient for this particular task. I’m using sarcasm.
Here’s an interesting quote from an interesting man, George Washington Carver (http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa041897.htm): “It is not the style of clothes one wears, neither the kind of automobile one drives, nor the amount of money one has in the bank, that counts. These mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success.”
Do you see the humility and simplicity of this quote? Service! Well how do we serve the Lord where we are right now? Don’t be afraid to share with someone your testimony of how Jesus has changed your life. So many common practices in the church are inconsequential in comparison to Jesus Christ and Him crucified. No matter where you perceive a fellow church attender to be, whether mature in Christ or unsaved, a little bit of yourself (in the form of friendship & encouragement) goes a long way. Of course you’re exposing yourself to possible hurt, but then isn’t that part of vulnerability? Sounds like sacrifice to me. “Take up your cross daily”.
Ephesians 5:8-20 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
