Diligence!

Saturday, November 1, 2014
Devotions: Ps 55, 138, 139:1-17; Sir 5:1-17; Rev 13:11-18; Lk 12:32-48

Lord God, hear my prayer and don't hide Yourself from my supplication!  I need to hear from You, because I am overcome by my troubles; I am weakened by long and fruitless struggles; the noise of the adversary bothers me, and I am worn down by the callous indifference of many nearby.  My heart is in anguish; I don't want die, but life is bitter and empty.  I need shelter, Lord; I need You!  I cast my burdens on the Almighty One, and I will trust in You, God. Only You!  I bow to You, God, and thank You for steadfast love and faithfulness.  Though I walk amid troubles, You preserve my life.  And I affirm that You will fulfill Your purpose for me.  Don't forsake the work of your hands, my King!  For You have searched me and know me in and out.  I can't sustain attention; life is too complicated for me; but You know my path, and guide me along it.  How precious are Your thoughts, Lord, my treasure and my hope.

Yeshua ben Sirach wrote:  Don't set your heart on wealth; and don't add sin to sin. Turn to the Lord immediately, and abide in Him.  Be steadfast in understanding; speak few words, deeply pondered; be consistent in affirming God; be quick to hear, slow to answer, and hold your peace when you have nothing useful to say.  Slander none and be honest in praise and in argument.  Act with perspicuity in matters both small and great.  Keep the command to love your neighbor, and to leave judgment to God alone.

John the Revelator recorded this:  I saw a second beast rising from the earth.  It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon!  This beast exercises all the authority of the first beast and compels all those on earth to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.  It works great signs, deceiving the inhabitants of earth, bidding them to make an image of the first beast, mortally wounded, yet living still.  This second beast causes all--great and small, rich and poor alike--to be marked on right hand or forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless they bear the mark of the beast:  6 6 6.

Jesus said:  Little flock, don't be afraid: it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions; give alms; provide yourself purses that don't age, provided with treasure in the heavens that never fails, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, your heart will be also.  Gird your loins and trim your lamps; imitate those who wait for their absent master to return home from the marriage feast, ready to welcome him as soon as he knocks.  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds alert at his return.  I tell you truly, he will gird himself and seat those servants at table, and he will come and serve them himself!  If he comes in the second or third watch, and they're waiting alert and patient, how blessed are those servants!  Consider this: if a householder knew the hour a thief would come, they could guard the house against burglary.  So you also be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour.  Peter asked Jesus if this lesson pertained only to disciples, or to all people.  Jesus replied:  Who then is the faithful and wise steward whom the master will set over his household and provide their portion of food at the proper time?   The ones the master finds diligent are blessed.  The master will set them over all his possessions.  But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' and begins to abuse others and misuse what is put in his charge, then when the master arrives unexpectedly, that servant will be punished and put among the unfaithful.  And the servant that understood his charge, but neglected it will receive a severe beating.  Those who did wrong but did not know the rules of the household will also be disciplined, but their beating will be light.  To all given much, much will be required.  And of those to whom men commit much, they will demand more.