"And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it." (Luke 9:23-24).
In your prayer time, have you ever prayed to God to help you with something? Have you ever gone to God on your knees and implored Him from all your heart to answer your prayer. What if the shoe was one the other foot? What if God's answer is; ‘let's get to your request later, right now I would like you to do a little project for Me'. What would your answer be?
Would you say no, I'm busy right now? When God knocks on your door, do you make excuses that it is to hot or cold outside? Or perhaps, you may say, ‘God I would really like to help, but it is just too scary for me'. Or, as many would say, Lord, Lord, I go to church every Sunday and on occasion, I even attend Bible study, but I am just not prepared to do what you ask of me.
Like the sluggard who looks for excuses for doing work, a person who loves his/her bed, many of God's children also look for excuses not to serve Him.
Proverbs 22 - Teaches us today?
Proverbs 22:13 "(13) The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I shall be slain in the streets!"
Psalm 82:1-4 "(1) God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the rulers. (2) How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? (3) Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute (4) Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked."
Today's question. The Christian sluggard?
Jesus provides us with a story that illustrates the Christian who neglects his duty. It is taught in both Matthew 25:15-28 and Luke 19:12-26. At the end of each parable, the master rebukes the person who did nothing with the talent/mina he gave him. He was just too lazy to even invest it in the bank. "Then why did you not put the money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?' "And he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.'" (Luke 19:23-24).
Many people do not realize that this parable is about and for Christians. It does not mean that you can lose your salvation or be kicked out of heaven or fall out of fellowship with God, but it does mean that those who do His will and take up their cross, will be given rewards.
How do you say no to God? People have been saying no for thousands of years. Either they say no because they are cowards, or they say no because they are lazy, or they say no because they simply do not want to obey Him. When God was ready to give the children of Israel the land of milk and honey, all they had to do was to go in and take it. They had nothing to fear for God was with them. Yet, they said; "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us." (Numbers 13:31). "And the Lord said to Moses, "How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?" (Numbers 14:11).
Because of their cowardice action, God delayed giving the children of Israel the land for 40 years. When God calls, jump up and say, ‘yes Lord!'
Dear God, help us to take up our cross daily. Amen.
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