Luke 17:7

“’And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, “Come at once and sit down to eat”?’”

                The point being made here in this passage is that if you do the things you’re supposed to, why would you be rewarded?

                It reminds me of elementary school. There was the child that did everything right all the time; they would open the door for people, they would complete their assignments on time, they would be quiet when supposed to. And then there was the kid who never did any of those things, and normally had to be reminded several times of what they were supposed to be doing. However, when the second kid would complete an assignment on time, the teacher would beam and give him a sticker. Then the first child sits there staring at the sticker on the other kid’s hand and wonders why he doesn’t have a sticker too.

                So to receive reward, go above and beyond what’s expected of you, and don’t expect special treatment because of the service you complete.

                Your job is to do what you are called to do. If someone comes along and pats you on the back for it, then that’s great – you were doing what you’re supposed to. But don’t be looking for that when doing your duties.

                Today, I will push the glory back to God if I receive any recognition for something I do – because whatever it is, it was asked of me, and nothing less should be expected from me.

Luke 17:8

“But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’?”

                This verse is all about priorities. I know that priorities and procrastination are a big problem for me, even though I manage to still get things done on time. It’s important to get the things that are necessary to be done first before doing the things that are leisurely or about yourself.

                It’s hard for us to do this because we always think about US. This is a sickness! All of America is infected with a want for self. Our society makes money off of this! We need to do this less, by thinking of others first.

                Today I will do my homework first before FaceBook, rather than waiting for the internet to go off and then do my homework.

               

Luke 17:6

“So the Lord said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, “Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’”

                Woah! Did anyone else see this?! Right here is a time when Jesus is again teaching his disciples… but this one is different. Luke here references Jesus by saying, “the Lord”!

                He had just finished telling his disciples to forgive their brothers in their sin, and to not offend others. I can see the disciples response in almost a contemptuous way. Can’t you just hear it? “Forgive again and again? Oh, geez – increase our faith…”

                And then with an authority from Heaven, Jesus says that if they only had the faith of a mustard seed they could do extraordinary things. Why would Luke say that “the Lord” here otherwise? Sometimes he speaks as “the Teacher” or the “Son of Man” or even the “Son of God” but here – he is the Lord himself.

                Do we remember the authority that speaks to us in the Scriptures? The words in bright red writing can become trite to us at times, but it shouldn’t be. I can imagine that sometimes that could be the case with the disciples. Sometimes they may forget that every word that Jesus spoke was ringing with divine authority from on high. So is every word on these pages.

                From now on, I will approach the Word with more reverence – and spend 30 minutes in the morning, doing my devotion; really pouring into it, rather than skimming over it like I normally do, looking for an application.

I Corinthians 13:8

“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish awa

                Love never fails. This isn’t human love. This is the love of God. This is God himself.

                Everyone on this earth WILL fail you. Not MIGHT fail you – WILL fail you! You will never be able to completely rely on someone in every single thing without them failing you at least one time.

                But God never fails.

                The song moves me every time I hear it, because it’s true:

                                “Your love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me.”

                People “fall out of love” (btw if it was real love they wouldn’t have fallen out of it), they let go of promises, they forget, they give up, they get tired.

                But God loves you. Forever. And ever and ever and ever and ever…….

                Today, I will meditate on the love of God, and write about his great love for me.

I Corinthians 13:7

“bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things

                Love is something that you can trust, something you can believe in, something you can hope in, and something that is capable of being trusted in. There are two sides to this.

                Love trusts, believes, and hopes – but it’s also something that you CAN trust, believe, and hope in. To be trusted in, you have to be trustworthy. If love is without confidence, without trust, without faith – it’s not love. It’s selfish ambition. It’s empty.

                In order to love, be loveable. You have to endure and be trustworthy in order to be trusted and to trust others.

                Today, I will endure when I would cop out, and look past things I have come to learn.