Daily Devotion

THIS IS UNIQUE AMONG THE PARABLES OF JESUS BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY ONE STORY WHICH IS, IN PART, BASED ON AN ACTUAL HISTORICAL EVENT. WHEN HEROD THE GREAT DIED IN 4 B.C., HE LEFT HIS KINGDOM DIVIDED BETWEEN HEROD ANTIPAS, HEROD PHILIP, AND ARCHELAUS. THIS WAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE ROMANS BEFORE IT BECAME EFFECTIVE. ARCHELAUS WENT TO ROME TO PERSUADE AUGUSTUS TO ALLOW HIM TO ENTER INTO HIS INHERITANCE. THE JEWS SENT FIFTY MEN TO ROME TO INFORM AUGUSTUS THAT THEY DID NOT WANT HIM AS KING. AUGUSTUS CONFIRMED HIM WITHOUT THE TITLE OF KING.

 

THE PARABLE OF THE KING, AND HIS SERVANTS ILLUSTRATES FACTS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. (1^ST) IT TELLS OF THE KING'S TRUST. HE GAVE HIS SERVANTS THE MONEY, AND THEN WENT AWAY. HE DID NOT IN ANY WAY INTERFERE WITH THEM. THIS IS THE WAY IN WHICH GOD TRUSTS US. (2^ND) IT TELLS OF THE KING'S TEST. THIS TRUST WAS A TEST OF WHETHER OR NOT A MAN WAS FAITHFUL, AND RELIABLE IN LITTLE THINGS. IT IS IN THESE ROUTINE DUTIES THAT GOD IS TESTING. FOR JESUS, IT WAS THE CARPENTER'S SHOP IN NAZARETH. (3^RD) IT TELLS OF THE KINGS REWARD. THE REWARD THAT THE FAITHFUL SERVANTS RECEIVED WAS NOT ONE WHICH THEY COULD ENJOY BY SITTING DOWN, AND DOING NOTHING. ONE WAS PUT OVER 10 CITIES, AND THE OTHER 5 CITIES. THE REWARD OF WORK WELL DONE WAS MORE WORK TO DO.

 

THE PARABLE CONCLUDES WITH ONE OF THE INEXORABLE LAWS OF LIFE. TO HIM WHO HAS, MORE WILL BE GIVEN; FROM HIM WHO HAS NOT, WHAT HE HAS WILL BE TAKEN AWAY.

Life Application: God expects us to grow in Him, and we can do that if we are obedient to His commands. Life in Christ Jesus grows in our obedience to His desires even if they seem unimportant.

Praise/Prayer: "PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!" "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." The Bible is full of wonderful promises that include our involvement in.   Thank you, Father, for giving us a part in Your kingdom. HALLELUJAH! AMEN!