30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 15 11-32 To seek and the save the lost - The prodigal son 36 Warning to the complacent church
📖 Luke 15:11-32
18Mar2020 - *Warning for those, who knew* - _Luke 15:11-32_ - Bible reading: _Luke 19:20-23_
_Luke 15:29-31 So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. (30) But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' (31) "And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours._
We see the elder brother standing outside, unwilling to be part of the celebration, unwilling to be reconciled with his younger brother and unwilling to shoulder responsibility alongside with his father. Instead, we see in his response, that he has to come to the extent of questioning his father’s judgment.
We see this parable, where a nobleman gave ten minas to his ten servants and told them to do business with it till he returns. We see the response of one of the servants. _Luke 19:20-21 “Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. (21) For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' (22) And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. (23) Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?'_
Here we see this servant, who knew his master’s ways and yet was not willing to do what was expected of him to do. He was severely punished. This is how it is going to be for those of us, who knew the ways of our Master.
I’m speaking specifically, to those of us, who come from Christian homes and Christian upbringing. We have been taught and we have been exposed to the ways of God. Yet, we have chosen to remain outside, expecting God to keep meeting our needs and even questioning God when matters have not gone our way. We will be severely punished.
_Luke 12:47-48 And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (48) But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more._
We, as the church, have reached a place of smugness and complacency. _Revelation 3:17-18 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— (18) I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see._
Our hearts and minds have become calloused and closed. _Isaiah 29:13 Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honour Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,_ We have made the ways of God to be mere commandments of men.
*Thought to ponder*
```II Chronicles 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.```