Changed by God’s goodness and grace to make a difference for Him. .

Remember the words of Jesus when he used financial investment as an example of our calling to make the most of what God invested in our lives, in the parable about the 10 servants who each received a mina, an amount of money, to invest for their master. Some earned 10 and 5 minas more. One man kept it laid away in a cloth. The master’s investment did not earn any interest in his case.

About this man, Jesus said: (Luke 19: 26) "'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away”.

In this parable a servant is punished, because he did nothing with the treasure he was given.

This servant represents the people who have received the gospel message and God’s blessings and it has not changed them even one little bit!

And they have not shared God’s investment in their lives with others and did not use their blessings to expand the Kingdom of God.  Their shareholding in God’s work remains small and vulnerable and when the day of judgement comes, they will not hear the Master’s word of welcome and approval. For those who earned Christ no interest on his investment in their lives, the judgement day is a daunting prospect.

But to those who made the most of God’s investment in their lives, will also be given the share of the unfaithful servants – a multiplied share of joy and even eternal glory.  Those who truly work with the Big Entrepreneur of the Kingdom of God, those who use their given salvation, spiritual gifts, church membership, Bible knowledge, access to God’s throne in prayer and ability to give, to advance the Kingdom of Christ, will certainly hear the Master say:  Well done good and faithful servant.  They have been changed into godly entrepreneurs by God’s work of grace.

Christ has invested his life, his death, his blood, his power and his Spirit in you!

What interest has he received through your life, your service and your witness?

Be blessed when you are changed by God’s goodness and grace into someone who is making the most of every opportunity given to you in Christ’s cause on earth.  When the last day comes, you will remain standing, be given Christ’s glory and even be given the eternal blessings of those who did nothing with their invitation to serve the King of all!

Easter-tide: We must obey God rather than human beings

We must obey God rather than human beings:  Acts 5: 29 – 31.

After refusing to obey the orders of the Jerusalem authorities to keep quiet about Christ and his resurrection, Peter and the apostles found themselves on the defence in a courtroom.   Peter was reminded:  “Did we not tell you to keep quiet about Jesus?

Peter’s response is:  “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Act 5:  29).  What he was saying was that they were doing ministry given to them by God.  On the other hand the religion of the high priest was in fact fighting against God and was illegitimate! 

Peter’s statement in Acts 5 verses 30-31 brings the Kingship of Jesus and his crucifixion together, highlighting the calling to submit to Jesus as “Lord”:

³⁰The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.

³¹God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. ³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

The death of Jesus is overturned by God’s rising of Jesus. Jesus’ death is not the final word, but the pathway into a new life of repentance and renewal. The resurrection gives permission and licence to the Apostles to preach the gospel.

The cross leads to the absolute Lordship of Jesus that came as a result of his resurrection and it defines the character of his kingdom.

The rhetoric of obeying God rather than humans highlights that ceasing from the proclamation of Jesus would be submitting to the selfish power hungry and greedy lifestyles of the unbelieving world.

Jesus’ resurrection says there is something better than self-indulgence.

It only is the Risen Christ that leads to repentance and to forgiveness.

We either live by the rules and values of the world - or by faith in the resurrected Christ!

Obeying the rules and values of the unbelieving society results in sharing in their judgment as offenders against God.  It is to obey God that gives ultimate victory. That gives daily victory!

New portal for protestant ministers / pastors who value the reformation heritage!

Have look at this new portal for protestant ministers / pastors who value the reformation heritage!

You are welcome to list your congregation's, or a mission's or project's website!

Want to publish your article, sermon outline or devotion on this site:  Let us know!

On the website go to the "Contact" facility and send your request or contribution!

God bless you in his service!

http://www.pastoral.co.za/

Easter lasts more than a day.

Easter lasts more than a day.

We celebrated Easter on Easter Sunday on 31 March 2013.

But all Christian worship testifies to the resurrection of Christ. Jesus rose on the first day of the week. And we worship on the first day of every week, Sundays, to say to the world that we serve a risen Saviour. Sunday worship speaks on every Sunday of the significance of the resurrection to every Christian and all of humanity.

But because the resurrection of Jesus is the pinnacle of our faith, we also have 50 days, until Ascension Day and Pentecost Sunday that we call Eastertide – a Season of focused learning about the impact and implications on our lives when we say that we serve a risen Saviour. Not to mention the eternal impact!

Fifty days of Easter? What would we do for 50 days? Surely we so not suggest fifty consecutive Easter egg hunts, or duplicating Easter Sunday fifty times over in Church. No, it’s taking time to reflect upon and delight in the truth of serving a living Lord.

The basic truth of Easter is simple: Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Therefore the implications of the resurrection are more than we can learn about during a 20 minute sermon on Easter Sunday! So we need the 50 days of Eastertide to reflect deeply on the many-sided meaning of our Lord’s resurrection.

Here are some themes to think, learn and pray about during Eastertide:

•You can meditate upon what the resurrection says about who Jesus Christ really is – the all powerful and righteous Son of God - (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:25-28).

• You may try to find the meaning of the truth that “our death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54-56).

• You should ask what does it mean that the power and might of the risen Jesus is available to Christians today (Ephesians 1:15-23).

• You will have to think of how the resurrection of Jesus assures of our own resurrection (1 Corinthians 15).

Eastertide allows us to think deeply and to pray diligently about what the resurrection of Jesus means to me personally, to us as God’s people, and to the whole world.

Let’s celebrate and learn with energy and focus!

And learn to live the resurrection life.