Matthew 25:25
“I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.”
If you weren’t afraid of failing, what would you attempt today?
In Matthew 25:14-30, a wealthy businessman entrusted his entire estate to 3 key workers. He gave the first worker 5 talents, the second worker 2 talents, and the third worker 1 talent.
A talent is believed to be worth about 1 year’s salary. Knowing that helps us understand exactly how marvelous of an opportunity this was for the workers. It was a defining moment in their lives that gave them the chance to:
1. test their skills
2. practice good judgement
3. profit from their investment
Two of the workers accomplished all three of these things, but the third was afraid of failing his master. In his fear, he decided t play it safe and bury the money he was given. Playing it safe got him called wicked and lazy. (Matthew 25:26)
Fear of failure always makes us play it safe. Without the courage to start, we are already finished. Everyone will either overcome their fears or give into them.
Refuse to let fear stop you from making God a return on His investment. His investment is YOU. How we use the gifts that Go has given us is a matter of utmost importance. We all could use a little reckless faith.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“You are not your own; you were bought at a price.”
Galatians 3:26-29
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Spiritual comparison has nothing to do with skin color, and everything to do with the condition of our heart. It doesn’t matter if our ancestors came to this country in the Mayflower, or in a slave ship. In Jesus’ Kingdom, social status doesn’t count.
And he doesn’t consider gender either, because “in Christ’s family, there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female . . . we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ.” Jesus is just as available to you as He is to me.
God doesn’t even discount you based on your moral background. Rahab was a harlot until the exercised faith in God’s Word. In fact, she is even mentioned alongside Sarah, Abraham’s wife, because she believed and was blessed.
Faith is the only thing that creates true equality, and true unity in Jesus. When we have faith in Jesus, we can walk with our head held high despite our past failures. Jesus healed a woman who was stooped over with severe spinal curvature for 18 years. When He saw her Jesus said, “Woman you are free . . . and immediately she was able to stand up straight.” (Luke 13:12-13)
When we place our complete faith in Jesus, we too find the power to stand up straight. Once that happens, we can look around and see that we are all the same before God. Once we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are welcomed as heirs to God’s promise, and co-heirs alongside Jesus Christ. We are welcomed into His family with a huge bear hug.
Related Text:
Ephesians 4:17-32 (teaching us to live as children of light)
Psalm 119:18
“Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.”
Here are four ways to come to God’s Word with open eyes.
1. Come Humbly: ”Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” (1 Peter 2:2) What’s more helpless than a baby? What’s more needy, or dependent? That’s how we should approach the Bible, like babies going after a bottle. Forget asking if you’ve read your Bible today . . ask how much you’ve been in it? How many times have you turned to God’s words to sustain you today? To give you answers you needed? To give you hope and joy? How many times have you recalled memorized scripture from days gone by? Crave God’s word as a baby craves life-giving milk.
2. Come Hungry: ”For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” (Psalm 107:9) What we hunger for determines what satisfies our hunger. Accept no substitutions! Refused to be satisfied with the junk food of television, movies, music, and consuming when you can sit at God’s table with the One who loves you so much.
3. Come Persistently: Ask more from each verse. Paul speaks of the manifold wisdom of God” in Ephesians 3:10. The word manifold means that each verse is like a diamond – every angle brings us another beam of light. Martin Luther said, “Study your bible like you pick apples. First, shake the tree, then shake the limbs, then shake the branches, then shake the twigs, then look under every leaf. Don’t just read passages that are familiar and comfortable to you. Dive into God’s word and soak it all up.
4. Come Openly: Don’t read the Bible to try and pinpoint what’s wrong with your neighbor. Personalize what you read. Ask God to help you understand and apply His truths to your life. Don’t just read it and change nothing, allow God to change whatever needs it.
Come with open eyes and an open heart and experience God’s living Word!
Matthew 25:25
“I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.”
Jesus’ parable to His disciples about the talents (the money given for investment purposes from a master to his servants) teaches us that the one who risks will be rewarded; but the one who plays it safe will lose. Jesus was not just talking about “the sweet by and by” here. He wasn’t just giving a story for story’s sake. He was pinpointing our lives. This principle applies to our lives here and now. Many failures usually precede any success. If we let the fear of failure keep us from taking risks, we will never do anything significant. Walking by faith involves taking risks and making mistakes, and learning along the way.
One day, a ceramics teacher divided her class into 2 groups. The first group was graded on the number of pieces they produced during the class (50 for an A, 40 for a B, 30 for a C, and so on) but the second group was graded on quality and only had to produce one piece. It had to be perfect to get an A. The results weren’t what you would imagine. The group that was graded on quantity began working at breakneck speed. At first the pieces were sloppy and ugly, but by the end of the class, they first group was producing excellent artwork. They were getting practice, turning out so many pieces. But the second group sat around trying to think about how to start and wondering where the inspiration would come from. The second group failed to finish their piece and had nothing to show for their effort, while the first group not only got an A, but were producing amazing peces by the end of the class. UNLESS we overcome our fear of making mistakes, we will never make a difference.
Faith means following God to the very edge, trusting Him that when we do, He will either put a solid foundation underneath our feat, or He will teach us to fly!
Related Text:
Matthew 25:14-30 (entire talent parable)
Hebrews 12:1-2
“1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
A study of the lives of Bible heroes reveals two commonalities: they struggled with failure, and they refused to let any single experience distort their view of themselves. These characteristics are common not only to Bile heroes, but to many visionaries.
The Emperor Ferdinand told Mozart that his opera, The Marriage of Figaro, was “far too noisy”. Van Gogh sold only one painting during his lifetime, yet his smallest one today will sell for millions. Einstein’s teacher told him he would never mount to anything. (Bet his teacher wants that one back??) They succeeded because they refused to be limited by the opinions of others.
Author Leo Buscaglia was a great admirer of television cooking expert Julia child. He wrote, “I just love her attitude. She says, ‘Tonight, we’re going to make a souffle.’ Then she beats this, whisks that, drops stuff on the floor, and does all of these wonderfully human things. The she throws it into the oven and chats with you while it’s baking. Finally, she says, ‘Now it’s ready.’ But when she opens the oven, the souffle just falls flat as a pancake. but does she panic or burst into tears? No! She just smiles and says, ‘Well, you can’t win them all. Bon appetite!’”
Our greatest regrets may be over the things we haven’t done, rather than the things we have done, because mistakes are redeemable while lost opportunities are lost.
Get on with it – the reward is worth running the race!
Look to God for encouragement and for the strength to persevere. Keep the joy. Love God and love others!
The 12 men Jesus chose to be with Him on a regular basis and follow His teachings were called His disciples. The word “disciple” comes from root word which means “to learn”. It was more about following Jesus spiritually and mentally than just following Him physically from town to town.
In general, a disciple was someone who developed a close relationship with a rabbi (teacher) and learned from his teachings. So the question is, are you a disciple of Jesus? Don’t just answer without stopping to think for a bit.
1. How is your relationship with Jesus?
2. What are you doing to maintain your relationship with Jesus?
3. Are you spending time reading God’s word?
4. Are you following His teachings? Are you obedient to your Savior and Lord?
Just remember, being a Christian isn’t a default lifestyle. It takes work and action on your part. If your relationship with Jesus isn’t as close as you would like it, or if it’s just not where you would like it to be, remember that you have the power to change what needs to be changed. Remove distractions if needed. Connect with a church or with other Christians. Pray to God and pour out your heart. Live for Jesus who died for you!
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John 12:1-11
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5″Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7″Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. ” It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
Related Text: Psalm 16:9-11
Matthew 26:6-13
Mark 14:3–9
Luke 7:36-50
John 11
Job 19:25-27
25 But I know my living Redeemer,
and He will stand on the dust at last.
26 Even after my skin has been destroyed,
yet I will see God in my flesh.
27 I will see Him myself;
my eyes will look at Him, and not as a stranger.
My heart longs within me. Psalm 19:12-14
12 Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
13 Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule over me.
Then I will be innocent,
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to You,
LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. Isaiah 44:6-7
6 This is what the LORD, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the LORD of Hosts, says:
I am the first and I am the last.
There is no God but Me.
7 Who, like Me, can announce the future?
Let him say so and make a case before Me,
since I have established an ancient people.
Let these gods declare the coming things,
and what will take place.
Related Text:
Isaiah 44:24-28
Isaiah 54
Luke 24:13-36
Galatians 4:4-5
Titus 2:11-14
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God is called Redeemer because He saves people from being prisoners to the power of sin. Our sinful nature, which the Bible calls our “flesh” wants to do bad stuff. That’s why it’s called our “sinful nature”. Our sinful nature desires to sin. When we remain in Christ, He gives us the power to break out of our sinful nature, to overcome it’s desires and the temptations that we all face. Take some time to read John 15, it’s powerful stuff!
Since God cannot tolerate sin, as a sinner you must be saved, or REDEEMED, from sin’s captivity. God redeemed humanity through Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection.
Jesus’ death on the cross paid for your sins! When we believe in Christ as our Savior, we throw away our old sinful self because Jesus has made us into a new creation, a new person raised in Christ from the death of our sin as He was raised from His death on the cross. And Jesus gives us the strength and the wisdom to overcome those temptations that are always aimed at us.
He paid the price, He bought you back through His death and resurrection and rescued you (who believe) from the penalty of sin – which is death and separation from God. When you believe in what Jesus did on the cross, you are saved from being a prisoner to sin, and you receive salvation.
Be sure and ask questions if you have any questions about this topic. It is super important and super powerful.
And if you understand it all, then GREAT. Now go share it with someone who hasn’t heard it!
Okay, so this clip is some rediculous super hero movie. But hey, if there really was a Waffler, I bet he would definitely show up to Waffle Fest ’09! In fact, I think the rumor is that the Waffler will make an appearance. Must be tough to squeeze in time between all of the crime fighting. Come out to catch a glimpse of Waffler, eat all of the waffles your gut can handle, and have a great time worshiping God, who loves us so much that He gave up His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins! 2 day event, Saturday, October 10, 2009 @ 7pm and Sunday, October 11, 2009 @ 9am. For more information, go to FBC Frisco’s Student Ministry Page. Waffle Fest ’09 is a FREE EVENT!
Obadiah 1:8-17
8 “In that day,” declares the LORD,
“will I not destroy the wise men of Edom,
men of understanding in the mountains of Esau?
9 Your warriors, O Teman, will be terrified,
and everyone in Esau’s mountains
will be cut down in the slaughter.
10 Because of the violence against your brother Jacob,
you will be covered with shame;
you will be destroyed forever.
11 On the day you stood aloof
while strangers carried off his wealth
and foreigners entered his gates
and cast lots for Jerusalem,
you were like one of them.
12 You should not look down on your brother
in the day of his misfortune,
nor rejoice over the people of Judah
in the day of their destruction,
nor boast so much
in the day of their trouble.
13 You should not march through the gates of my people
in the day of their disaster,
nor look down on them in their calamity
in the day of their disaster,
nor seize their wealth
in the day of their disaster.
14 You should not wait at the crossroads
to cut down their fugitives,
nor hand over their survivors
in the day of their trouble.
15 “The day of the LORD is near
for all nations.
As you have done, it will be done to you;
your deeds will return upon your own head.
16 Just as you drank on my holy hill,
so all the nations will drink continually;
they will drink and drink
and be as if they had never been.
17 But on Mount Zion will be deliverance;
it will be holy,
and the house of Jacob
will possess its inheritance.
Related Text:
Isaiah 13
Joel 3
2 Peter 3
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Making Sense of It All
Obadiah is the shortest of the 39 Old Testament books. Seriously, it’s only 1 chapter and it has 21 verses. If you have trouble opening up your Bible to read, the book of Obadiah might be the best place to start for you. In the 21 verses, the prophet Obadiah expressed nothing but bad news. His words were directed at the Edomites, who rejoiced at the destruction of Jerusalem. (not a good idea) The Edomites were a neighboring nation who were always opposing the Israelites.
God loved the Israelites, who were His chosen people, and He promised to deal forcefully with any nation that went against His children. God was about to drop the hammer on the Edomites.
So let’s steer this application to our own lives. As Christians, we are loved by God. We are even considered His children, adopted into His Kingdom as children and co-heirs with Christ! Romans 12:17-21 tells us to love everyone, even those who oppose us, and let God avenge any wrongdoing. Psalms is filled with God’s love and strength, with His rescue and His shelter.
Romans 8:13-17
13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
