God's Mission
Luke 17:1-10
Sin, Faith, Duty
“So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
~ Jesus
Luke 17:10
1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 So watch yourselves.
“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
7 “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
Pondering Point
Often in life, one gives his or her time and expects payment or appreciation. You will see that very principle in action with Saturday’s Scripture Story. But a different relational principle is being elevated in this teaching. As servants of the king, we don’t serve to GET from the king, but because we have ALREADY GOTTEN from Him. Let’s translate that into our life with God: we don’t live for God and serve Him to finagle blessings out of Him. We serve Him because He has already poured out mercy, new life, salvation, and benevolent relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. As Luther put it at the end of his explanation to the first article of the Creed:
He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.
Prayer
Father God, You richly and daily provide all that I need to support this body and life. This is most certainly true. I am happy to thank and praise You, serve and obey You with sacrificial living. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.