In John’s first letter to believers he talks about falling in love with Jesus. He provides an outline of how we should live as we stay in the light, confess our sins, and walk with Jesus.
John spends the next 2 chapters describing how we need to love one another and be willing to lay down our life for our brothers, as Jesus did for us. We need to keep in mind that Jesus’ love is perfected in us, reminding us that we know we have eternal life through Him.
As Jesus is finishing His earthly ministry He tells His disciples a parable about a King who is going away for a while. While he is away he gives his servants 10 Minas and asks them to “engage in business” with them. Some are successful and have multiplied their return. Jesus tells about one who held on to what he was given and did not deliver what the king had anticipated. That outcome was not as pleasant.
The definition of Minas can be perceived in different ways. A good analogy is the Minas are Assets. We are given assets from God in our personality, “Spiritual Gifts”, passion, and our story. We have a choice on how to use these assets for ourselves, or for the Kingdom. As stewards, we need to be willing to take some risk in order to get a good return for our King.
We like to think about Jesus’ love, healing and peacefulness, but this passage in Luke raises some thoughts that can be confusing. He mentions bringing fire, disrupting peace and causing division. Many of us have taken this as an opportunity to justify separating ourselves from unbelievers. However, Jesus’ message is more of a warning of how we should be prepared.
This preparation is not just about the end times when Jesus will literally bring fire to purify the earth, but a warning that following Him may bring division within our own families and those close to us. In Matthew Jesus also mentions having a sword to help be prepared. This is not likely a literal sword, but another reference to the Word of God as our sword. This is not a sword used to attack others, but for our defense, as Jesus demonstrated when He was tempted by Satan.
Matthew also mentions that we need to not only prepare for division regarding those close to us, but we need to be prepared to put Jesus above all others in our life, without diminishing the love we have for those around us. We can find that if we give everything to God, He will help us use it for His purpose. What do you have that you are keeping to yourself, that God can use?
This week’s message is about the Parable of the Sower and how the same Word from God can affect each of us differently based on our perspective. As long as we hang on to our Kingdom of Earth perspective we will not be able to produce mature and effective fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Danny points out that the whole purpose of producing fruit is that when it is mature it leaves the tree and is left behind. Regardless of what happens to the fruit, its fragrance and sweetness when fully mature will have an impact for the Kingdom. Are we producing mature fruit to draw others into the Kingdom of God?