18 December 2009
Psalm 40, 54; Zech. 7:8-8:8; Rev. 5:6-14; Matt. 25:14-30

The former days of Jerusalem are remembered, the failure to heed the Word of the Lord. They are reminded of two basic things, that they disobeyed and that God judged their disobedience. They were not simply losers in the battle for the city with other nations, this was the judgment of God being executed against their sin and that judgment was righteous in the sense that it was deserved by their failure to keep covenant. The second part of the reading tells that not only is God righteous, He is also merciful. The return of the exiles has nothing to do with their obedience, it is God’s desire alone that has allowed them a hope and a future and the future He promises is peace and righteousness. The vision is of old and young in the city, and faithfulness and righteousness are the hallmarks of the relationship.

This Gospel lesson haunts me as a leader in the church in America. We have been given many talents by God, freedom, money, you name it we have it, and yet we are providing less return on investment than the one talent guy who buried his talent. Are we being faithful stewards of those talents with which we have been entrusted? It seems we have tried to hoard those things instead of sharing them in order to grow the kingdom. We have a great responsibility to the One to whom they belong and we will be required to give an accounting of our stewardship.

This 5th chapter of the Revelation is an amazing one. Where before there had only been the one on the throne who was worthy to receive glory and honor, now comes the lamb and the reaction of the elders and the living creatures is to fall down in His presence and offer Him the exact worship they had previously offered the One on the throne! Their worship is then followed by the angels and all the creatures in heaven, on earth and under the earth, all of creation explodes in the worship of the lamb. Our joy should be to join in that worship in the power of the Spirit at every opportunity as we recognize the worth of both the Father and the Son to receive our worship.

Blessed is the man who makes
the LORD his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.