04/12/2023 - SETTLING ACCOUNTS

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He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’  Matthew 25.22

That Day will be one of great difficulty, for we will have to give an account of what we have done with the faith and love of God given to us. Jesus showed the seriousness of His kingdom when He spoke about the kingdom of the evil one: If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? (Matthew 12:26). Certainly, those who do the work and set bad examples by what they say, do or allow will come to an unwanted end.

We need to walk firmly before God, determined to fulfill our mission, otherwise we will be in trouble before the Judge of the living and the dead. So, what will become of us? Now, this is very serious, but God wants to save you by offering you the opportunity to free yourself from evil by repenting, confessing your sins and obtaining complete forgiveness. It’s a new chance given to you by the Almighty. Don’t exchange it for anything!

An example of this was the accountability of the 12 disciples. They had been sent out two by two to the places the Savior would visit, in order to demonstrate to the suffering what the Master would do in person. They were to heal the sick and minister every blessing. On their return, they spoke to Jesus: Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name (Luke 10:17). And He gave them more power!

The Lord showed that the disciples weren’t alone, because His eyes were with them on the way: And he said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven‘ (Luke 10:18). This is very serious! If they had done anything wrong, Jesus would have seen it too. Now, when a worker indulges in forbidden practices, Christ sees it and can no longer use him. How many are defiling themselves for eternal damnation? If you are one of them, stop!

Judas Iscariot had the privilege of being accepted among the 12 who served Jesus directly. He was even chosen to be the treasurer of the Lord’s ministry, responsible for everything the people offered, but he became an example of someone who examines everything the devil shows him and sees nothing wrong with taking something he thinks he needs to solve his problems. Judas became a thief (John 12:6). What was his end and where will he be forever?

Jesus’ foreknowledge spoke about three workers who were given talents to trade and then give an account at His return. The one who received five talents said he was able to double them; the second also multiplied them, and so they entered the Kingdom of Glory. However, the one who received one talent didn’t trade it and even returned it intact. For this, he was condemned for disobeying the command he had received (Matthew 25:14-30). Do what you are told with joy!

God’s work is in our hands. Some of us have been assigned to do a lot, others to do less and others to do little. The initial amount and success will come from Heaven, but the failure to negotiate or gather more saved people does not come from the Lord. Explanations will never be accepted from those who have been called and have not doubled what they have earned. Christ is the eternal Judge!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares