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About-Him.Com Devotional 03-12-2005
Http://About-Him.Com/ My Thoughts on the Life of Christ, from His Baptism to His Ascension. 170: Discourses on Forbearance, Faith and Humility - Luke 17:1-10 Reading this passage, it is difficult to see a connection between the several subjects: It is the opinion of many scholars that the incidents in this section are unconnected but that Luke felt them to be too important to leave unrecorded. However, it does seem possible that the warning against offences could be related to the preceding passage concerning the Rich man and Lazarus. Luke 17:1 ¶ Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones (Mt. 10:42; 18:10,14; Mk 9:42). Offenses will come, but woe to you if you are the offender. Just as the Lord looked tenderly on the beggar Lazarus, He also looks upon each and everyone of his little ones. He clothes the lily and feeds the raven (Luke 12:24-27) and takes notice when a lowly sparrow falls to the earth (Luke 12:7). Many of us, like the rich man, find ourselves in superior positions, by no doing or merit of our own. How then, do we act towards those who have very little of this worlds goods? Those of other races and cultures? How about those who are weak in the faith? Do we act as lords over God's heritage? Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. We can avoid offenses by having a forgiving spirit towards those who do us wrong. Jesus said that if our brother trespasses against us we are to rebuke him. I believe He is telling us to communicate with our feelings in difficult situations rather than to let resentment build within us. If our brother repents, we are to forgive him, even up to seven times a day (comp. Mt. 18:22). It is entirely possible that when we rebuke our brother, we will find that we ourselves share some blame in the situation, and therefore we must ask forgiveness also. Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. Upon hearing this the disciples realized that their faith was weak and they asked the Lord to increase it. Jesus said the if they only had a little, they would be able to command a Sycamine tree (Mulberry) to be plucked up and cast into the sea. (Which tells me that I don't have a whole lot of faith). Jesus is simply saying, "Use the faith that you have. It will be sufficient to keep you from falling." Luke 17:7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Lest any of us feel exalted because of things such as position, ability, heritage, education, Jesus reminds us that He is the Master and that we are the servants. We have nothing of ourselves. Our self righteousness stinks in His sight. We can do nothing to impress Him or earn His great salvation. Our greatest efforts pale greatly when compared to the Savior pouring out His life's blood on our behalf. Anything that we accomplish on behalf of the kingdom, is simply because of Him. He endued us with power by the baptism of the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8), and we can do nothing on our own. His grace saves , keeps and empowers us. It is all of Him and nothing of us. We are indeed unprofitable servants.
In
About-Him
A New Poem:The Burden of the Lost Mary DeAuna Lennex
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Humor
A little boy is gone to school one day and while he is gone, his cat gets killed. His
mother is very concerned about how he will take the news. Upon his arrival home, she
explains the tragedy and tries to console the boy saying, "But don't worry, the cat is in
heaven with God now."
The boy replied, "What's God gonna' do with a dead cat?"
Somebody Has Said
"How little chance the Holy Ghost has nowadays. The churches and missionary
societies have so bound Him in red tape that they practically ask Him to sit in a corner
while they do the work themselves." - C.T. Studd
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