FAITH THAT WORKS: Devotion for Saturday June 18, 2016
Text: Luke 17:5 – 10 Memory verse: v 6
This
request in 17:5 was motivated by the difficulty of avoiding and forgiving
“offences.” Jesus tells His disciples, that if they have the smallest degree of
true faith; lively, operative faith, it will enable them to perform this
difficult duty of forgiving injuries, and all other duties, with much ease as a
miraculous faith would enable them to remove mountains and transplant trees. When
we obey Jesus’ instructions, we have only done our duties and should regard it
as a privilege. We shouldn’t expect thanks, for we were only doing what we were
supposed to do. Jesus used the example of a slave who renders service and does
not expect to be thanked. Obedience is not something extra done for God; it is
the duty of anyone who desires to be Christ’s follower. We must lay aside
selfishness and treat others with respect and common courtesy. How deep is your
faith in Christ Jesus? It is not how big but how deep to counter deep problems
of life.
With
these words, Jesus was not rendering service as meaningless or useless, nor was
He doing away with rewards. He was attacking unwarranted self-esteem and
spiritual pride; perhaps such as many of the religious leaders were exhibiting,
or what the disciples themselves might be tempted to fall into as they would
seek to serve God when their faith has been increased. Christians should focus
their eyes on God with their goal only to serve and please Him. They don’t work
for recognition or rewards or even for God to praise them for their hard work.
Don’t allow self esteem and pride for what God is using you to do in your
generation enter into your head.
Food for Thought: No obstacle can withstand a confiding faith in God.
Prayer: Grant me a strong faith to believe every word that comes from your mouth, O Lord my God.
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