One of my favorite images of Jesus.
Matthew 25:14-30
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’
26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
So a wealthy man called his mother from the airport. It was Mother's Day. And when he called he said, "Mom I know you get so upset and angry and - no of course not, you are never upset and angry and - About that large sum I invested for you - I haven't lost any money. No, no now listen. none of the money is gone in a year the S & P has not done well at all and we are actually even and that is g--- No Mother, this is actually good news. Now don't get so upset."
Now suppose this is God. Father God and this man has assumed his mother is all about her. All the time. The relationship is strained. Clearly this man sees his parent as fuming and easily angered. This is his view of the Parent.
God tells us in the Parable - He can act exactly like we expect Him to act. Father God says He can have hurt feelings.
Personally, I think Abraham made a mistake. I think if Abraham had wept and said, "No, I won't. Life and death are in Your hands and You have shown me You are a God of Mercy." Personally, I think God would have Applauded. Abraham had fought for the mercy of others and won before.
People ask, did God ever Laugh?
Isaiah 42:1
"Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations."
Numbers 6
24The Lord bless you and keep you;
25the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26the Lord lift up his countenance (smile) upon you and give you peace.
27“So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
In Jesus we pray, Amen.
When we sin, Father God as a parent, really enjoys a lot of groveling? Especially when we know something is wrong and we aren't sure what.
1 Timothy 1
15 This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. 16 But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience, as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
Paul is writing his son in the Spiritual life. He moves briskly. and the next sentence says I was shown mercy, God has patience. And wants us for about 15 minutes - no eternal life.
Matthew 9:13
But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Mark 2:17
On hearing this, Jesus told them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Luke 15:2
So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Jesus never had ideas about mankind that were not factual. Jesus says His personality, His Spirit is filled with Joy.
God Answers Prayers.
John 14
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me.
13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Jesus met Peter's fears and did not shun Peter. Jesus didn't even let Peter squirm. John says Jesus perfectly displays, "God is Love."
When we pray the Lord's Prayer, we pray God's Will be done. We have to expect His Will be done and this is Good. Giving Him our concerns and trusting.
Father God,
Tomorrow I am going in to see the Surgeon about a tumor on my forearm. This condition has been in my family three times and I prayed 20 years ago this would not cause trauma in our family again.
Father, I confess to You, I am saved only by the Grace of Jesus and His Name. I ask You to Smile upon me and heal me or fix this easily. I ask that we never suffer from this again and call this, "Never Again." As in the condition doesn't come back.
I won't worry about nervous or not, I will be very real with You.
We thank You for Canada's Fort McMurray having 90% of the city survive. And the safety of the people. Thank You for the people recovering from stomach virus. When we prayed there was good news and we prayed continuation.
I will Trust in Jesus and in Your abundant Grace. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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