May 17, 2025 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Luke

Luke 19:11  And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12  He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13  And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14  But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15  And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16  Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17  And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18  And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19  And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20  And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21  For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22  And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23  Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24  And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25  (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26  For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27  But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

As Jesus preparing to enter into Jerusalem the disciples were wondering if the promised kingdom would immediately appear.

They asked this question before death of Christ and after His resurrection.

Acts 1:6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

God will bring in His kingdom when He is ready; We need to be ready because we know the events of that happening reveal His return is ever so close.

The Lord uses the question the disciples asked to explain some things about His soon coming kingdom; He uses the parable of the nobleman and his servants to explain it.

We have before us two types of people. We have the servants of the Lord and we have the enemies of the Lord.

The servants of the Lord were to take what the nobleman had given them and invest and use and market it make gain from it. Christian are you using what God has given you to increase the kingdom of God? Or, are you hiding what God has given you and hoping to have it safe and ready when Jesus returns?

Be gospel conscious for God; in other words, take every opportunity to use what God has given you, namely your salvation, and share it with others so the  kingdom can increase. That is God’s plan.

The second group of people are those who, while the nobleman was gone, choose to create a mutiny, a rebellion, to dethrone the nobleman refusing to accept his authority.

Luke 19:14  But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

What was their lot when the Lord returned?

Luke 19:7  But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

My friend, when Jesus returns from heaven, from being at the right hand of the Father, those who refuse to accept Him and His authority have a different end then those who are His. The bible I clear on this point.

What side of this equation are you on?

Christian, your investment for the Lord is to reach others for Christ. Invest yourself in God, in your church, in the work of the Lord.  We should never get involved in physical judgment. (God is the only one who does that.) We invest the pound God has given us.

The choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook