Real Life with Jesus – Week 2

Day 1: The Call to Active Faithfulness

Scripture: Luke 19:13 - "Engage in business until I come."

Reflection:

We live in a world that craves instant results. We want quick success, immediate healing, and rapid spiritual growth. But Jesus reminds us through this parable that real life with Him isn't about instant pudding—it's about the slow-cooked kind that requires patience, attention, and faithful work.

The nobleman in Jesus' parable gave each servant a mina—about three months' wages—and commanded them to "engage in business" until his return. This wasn't a suggestion for passive waiting; it was a call to active obedience. The phrase literally means "get to work" or "occupy yourselves with purpose."

Jesus has entrusted each of us with something valuable: time, influence, relationships, resources, spiritual gifts, and the gospel itself. The question isn't whether we have enough—it's what we're doing with what we've been given. James 2:26 reminds us that "faith without works is dead." Real faith shows itself in action.

Application:

Take inventory today. What has God placed in your hands? A talent for encouragement? Financial resources? A platform of influence? Time to serve? Don't wait for the "perfect moment" to use what God has given you. Faithfulness isn't about waiting until you feel ready—it's about starting where you are with what you have.

Prayer:

Lord, help me see what You've entrusted to me. Give me courage to step out in faith and use these gifts for Your kingdom. I don't want to bury what You've given me out of fear or laziness. Teach me to be actively faithful while I wait for Your return. Amen.

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Day 2: When Obedience Costs You

Scripture: Luke 19:14 - "But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'"

Reflection:

Not everyone welcomes Jesus as King. Some reject Him openly; others resist quietly. In Jesus' parable, the citizens sent a clear message: "We do not want this man to reign over us." This wasn't about disliking the nobleman's personality—it was about refusing his authority.

Today, many people admire Jesus as a teacher, respect His compassion, and appreciate His values. But when it comes to submitting to His authority over their choices, relationships, finances, and future—that's where the resistance begins. Jesus isn't looking for fans; He's looking for followers who will bow to His kingship.

Real life with Jesus will include moments when obedience costs you something. Following Christ may put you at odds with cultural norms. His Word might confront your preferences. His authority might challenge your comfort. But here's the truth: following Jesus has never been about convenience or feelings—it's about recognizing Him as King and living under His reign.

Application:

Where in your life are you resisting Jesus' authority? Is there an area where you're saying, "I'll follow You here, but not there"? Maybe it's your finances, a relationship, your career path, or a habit you're unwilling to surrender. Today, identify one area where you've been holding back and consciously submit it to Christ's kingship.

Prayer:

Jesus, I confess that sometimes I want You as Savior but resist You as Lord. Forgive me for the areas where I've said, "Not here, not this." I surrender every part of my life to Your authority. Help me embrace the cost of obedience, knowing that Your reign is good and Your ways are best. Amen.

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Day 3: Faithfulness in Small Things

Scripture: Luke 19:17 - "Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities."

Reflection:

In the parable, the servants weren't praised for their brilliance, strategy, or impressive results. They were commended for one thing: faithfulness. One servant turned one mina into ten; another turned one into five. Both received the same response: "Well done, good servant!"

Notice what the king said: "Because you have been faithful in a very little..." The mina wasn't much—just three months' wages. But faithfulness in small things revealed readiness for greater responsibility in the kingdom.

We often overlook the small opportunities God places before us, waiting instead for something "significant." But God's kingdom doesn't work that way. He watches how we handle the little things—the daily choices, the small acts of obedience, the quiet moments of service that no one else sees. These reveal the condition of our hearts and prepare us for greater kingdom work.

What you do with what Jesus has given you matters. Not because you're earning His love—you already have that. But because faithfulness today shapes who you're becoming for tomorrow.

Application:

What "small thing" has God placed in your hands right now? Maybe it's being patient with a difficult coworker, serving faithfully in a behind-the-scenes role at church, or stewarding your finances wisely even when no one's watching. Don't despise small beginnings. Be faithful in the little things today, trusting that God is preparing you for more.

Prayer:

Father, help me see the value in small acts of faithfulness. I don't want to wait for "big opportunities" while neglecting what You've placed before me today. Teach me to serve with excellence in the small things, knowing that You're watching and that You're preparing me for greater kingdom responsibility. Amen.

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Day 4: When Fear Paralyzes Faith

Scripture: Luke 19:21 - "I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man."

Reflection:

The third servant did nothing with his mina. When called to account, his excuse was simple: "I was afraid of you." He viewed the king as harsh, demanding, and distant. That distorted view paralyzed his obedience. Instead of stepping out in faith, he buried what he'd been given.

Fear is one of the enemy's most effective weapons against believers. Some of us bury our faith out of:

• Fear of failure ("What if I mess up?")
• Fear of criticism ("What will people think?")
• Fear of discomfort ("This feels too hard")
• Fear of stepping out ("I'm not qualified")

But here's the truth: fear-based faith is still disobedience. When we allow fear to keep us from using what God has given us, we're essentially saying we don't trust His character. We're viewing Him through a distorted lens—as harsh rather than gracious, demanding rather than empowering, distant rather than present.

Real life with Jesus means serving even when we're afraid, trusting His character over our feelings, and acting on faith rather than waiting for perfection.

Application:

What fear has been keeping you from stepping out in faith? Write it down. Now, counter that fear with truth from Scripture. For example: "I'm afraid of failure" vs. "God works all things together for good" (Romans 8:28). "I'm not qualified" vs. "God equips those He calls" (Hebrews 13:21). Don't let fear bury what God has given you.

Prayer:

Lord, I confess that fear has sometimes paralyzed my faith. I've let worry about failure, criticism, or discomfort keep me from obeying You. Help me see You as You truly are—gracious, empowering, and present. Give me courage to step out in faith, even when I'm afraid. I trust Your character more than my feelings. Amen.

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Day 5: Ready for the King's Return

Scripture: Luke 19:15 - "When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business."

Reflection:

The king returned. And when he did, he called every servant to give an account. This isn't a "might happen" scenario—Jesus is clear that He will return. Matthew 16:27 says, "For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done."

We are living between the Cross and the Crown—between Jesus' departure and His return. This is where real life happens. We're not living in perfect conditions with instant results. Instead, we're called to live in faithful obedience, everyday surrender, and hopeful anticipation.

The parable ends with a sobering warning: those who rejected the king's authority faced judgment. Jesus is loving, but He is not passive. He is gracious, but He is King. Real life with Jesus forces a decision: Will you submit to His reign? Will you trust Him with your life? Will you live as if He is truly King—not just a story in a good book, but a Savior whorules over your heart, your mind, and your soul, and who lives in every decision you make?

There is no middle ground. One day, we will all stand before the King and give an account of what we did with what He entrusted to us.

Application:

If Jesus returned today, what would He find you doing with what He's given you? Take a moment for honest self-examination:

• Am I actively living under His authority, or just going through religious motions?
• What would change in my life if I truly believed He could return at any moment?
• Am I ready to give an account of my faithfulness?

Don't let this create anxiety—let it create urgency. The King is coming back. Live today in light of that reality. Be faithful with what's in your hands right now. Engage in kingdom business until He comes.

Prayer:

Jesus, You are coming back. Help me live every day with that reality in mind. I don't want to be caught unprepared or unfaithful. Give me a heart that longs for Your return and hands that are busy with Your work. May I hear You say, "Well done, good and faithful servant" when I stand before You. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.