*OCCUPY TILL I COME.*(Series 1) *Scripture Reading:* St. Luke 19:11-13; *"While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ’Put this money to work,’ he said, ’until I come back."*(NIV) *"And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come."*(:13, KJV) Other translations say; *"Do business - till I come."* As we consider this topic which is taken from Luke 19:11-13…this parable is similar to the parable in Matthew 25:14-30, yet a little bit difference from it. In The Gospel According to Luke the Servants received the same amount of financial resources and different rewards. But in the account in The Gospel According to Matthew, they received different amounts of resources according to their abilities, but the same rewards for their returns were in proportions to their varying abilities. In Luke 19:13 the nobleman gave gifts and also a command to all his servants. None was exempted. None: no servant was exempted. The command is, *“Do business till l come.” (NKJV). “Occupy till I come.” “Occupy till JESUS comes.”* In other words, engage in trade with what you have been given. Take what you have and put it to work. Stay busy with what I have given to you. Make this money grow. If you are in business and you are not growing you have become stagnant. It’s no different with the church. If we aren’t going foreword, then we’ve become stagnant. You can’t be both. *And to occupy mean to take hold of a territory, be in charge, do the necessity, make an improvement.* My question is this, *Christian, are you occupied for the Master or vacant; Are you busy or idle?* Those who are vacant are marked by idle chatter, gossips, lustful daydreaming, sometimes self-pity and prayerlessness, to mention a few. Revelation 3:16 say; *"So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth."* The lord loves us more than we can fathom. I know he didn’t say this to create fear, but as an admonition. In the last days, many will fall away from the faith. Satan knows his time is short, and he’s out doing everything he can to sabotage the faith of the saints. To be continue tomorrow morning by God's Grace. Good morning and do have a great Friday, peace. *Prayer point:* Dear Father, In your mercy, Rescue us from idleness; and rescue us from doing the wrong thing in Jesus Christ name. Amen! T.S. AFOLAYAN