S: Luke 12:42-48 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful. And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”
Luke 13:6-9 Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertiliser. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”
O: The Scout's motto, "Be Prepared!" seems to be the theme of both these passages.
There is a clear message in scripture that salvation is not earned, but rather, a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). But the other side of it is in passages like this -- that if we are truly saved, we will live in such a manner that our life shows it.
In Revelations, several times it says "He who overcomes shall" reap the rewards -- Revelation 2:11, 2:26, 3:5, 3:12, 21:7. Faith without works is dead. (James 2:14-26)
P: Father, we seem to be on the same theme yesterday and today, so I repeat my prayer yesterday: keep me steadfast in Christ till the very end. In Jesus' name, amen.
Note: this is using the SOAP method. For more information, see this page (not written by me.)
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