Luke 12:40-48 Reward or the Sword?
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: September 14, 2018 Luke 12:40-48
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
(Understanding the Text) Jesus has just finished saying that the people were to stay prepared for His coming even if it is delayed. They need to keep watch for it and not get too comfortable in this world. Then, He compared the people to the master of a house knowing that a thief (Jesus) would break in and staying home to be on the lookout for him. Jesus finishes by saying that Jesus would come when they did not expect it. Peter asks if Jesus is speaking specifically to the twelve disciples or to the whole crowd. At first, it seems like Jesus is not answering the question, but ultimately He is. The answer is that He is speaking to all the people, but especially the disciples, not because they are special, but because they have been given responsibility.
Jesus gives a principle of judgment here. If we have been put in a high level of responsibility and we abuse the position, we are judged more severely than someone in a lower position. The person who knows better and disobeys is judged more severely than the one who did not know that what he was doing was wrong. This is not about beatings; it’s about disregarding right and wrong because we are more concerned with the world than with living for God.
Jesus was telling Peter that He would demand more and expect more from the twelve than from the crowd. He was saying that the twelve disciples needed to be constantly aware of representing Him and be ready for His direction at a moment’s notice. While the crowd should be doing the same, it was not expected that they would.
(Revelation of God) Here is the paradox of getting to know Jesus. The more you know, the more you see His love, but also, the more you know, the more responsibility you have, especially in your interactions with others.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that I cannot live my life as if I am an unimportant member of the crowd. God has given me responsibilities. I have failed them many times before, but now I want to please Him and live up to the responsibilities I have been given. I want to do it right; however, I seem to focus on the wrong parts of doing it right. Jesus focuses on treating others well and focusing on Him. (Last night, God gave me an insight that doing it right is more about enjoying Him than responsibility. In taking joy in God, I take joy in life and in others.) Please teach me how to “do it right.” Teach me to have joy in being with You and help me to communicate that joy to others so that they can “do it right” also.
(Understanding the Text) “to give them their portion of food at the proper time” I just noticed what Jesus said that the ones He would leave in charge would be doing. Food, of course, denotes Jesus and the scriptures, but the disciples are not just witnessing to people about Jesus, but at the proper time. This denotes taking care of the other servants (Christians). If those left in charge do not treat their fellow servants well, God cares. Jesus gave us charge to take care of each other.