JUST DO YOUR JOB

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com.
In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

 “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’? 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’? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 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.’”

Luke 17:7-10

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

“Just doing my job.”

I’m not sure how many times I have said these words during my life but I’m pretty sure it’s been quite a few, especially since I am celebrating my 58th birthday today and have worked my entire adult life.

The saying is one that means what it says. If we have been given a job, then we have work to do and if we accomplish what we were tasked to do, then we were just doing our job. Sometimes the job we do might exceed the expectations of someone and they may wish to commend us for what we did but in the end translation, we were doing what we were employed to do.

And with that, there’s not much time to rest on our laurels because it seems work never stops needing to be done. As soon as we have finished one task, we have another one to get to, followed by one after that, and one after that, and so on and so on.

In today’s devotion, we are to take this work mentality and apply to our ministry work, the work that Jesus called us to do. We know this because of the words He teaches from as we continue to look at the 17th chapter of Luke. Look again at the words of our Savior here:

“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’? 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’? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 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.’”  Luke 17:7-10

The words of Jesus couldn’t be easier to understand.

His Father, God, has given Him authority over all things on heaven and earth. That makes Jesus not only our Savior but our Master. He gave up everything to save us, dying in our place, and in turn, we are to die to self and surrender ourselves completely to Him and the work He has called us to do. The passage here says we are to be His servants but the Greek word in the passage is “doulos” and it is more appropriately translated as “slave”, especially in the context of this passage.

Substitute slave for the word servant and this passage holds a lot more bite. A servant has rights. They can choose what they do. This is not true for the slave who is completely subservient to his/her master.

Now go back to the passage and remember that in the audience are His disciples and some Pharisees. Substitute the word “slave” everywhere you see “servant”. It would read like this:

“Suppose one of you has a (slave) plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the (slave) when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 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’? Will he thank the (slave) because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy (slaves); we have only done our duty.’”  Luke 17:7-10

A slave’s sole job is to do what the Master wants. After they come in from working, fulfilling the Master’s tasks, they will return only to make sure the Master’s needs are met before addressing their own needs. And they do so, not wanting any appreciation or accolades. Rather, they view themselves in the most humbly way possible as they do their duty, whatever that might be.

Let’s apply this to the church now and the collective call of all Christian believers to do the following:

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20

Here, we find our Master Jesus giving His slaves (all His disciples) their marching orders. There isn’t any room for negotiation or discussion. None. The calling isn’t optional.

Rather, the Master of all is giving commands and all are expected to comply, to carry out their Master’s will. Period.

In the end translation, we are the unworthy slaves of Jesus, unworthy of anything because of our sins, undeserving of His love and mercy. Outside of Him, we have no worth but in Him, we are priceless and trust me when I say we are priceless in His eyes. The Master loves His unworthy slaves, reflecting the affection of His Father.

It truly is amazing grace, unmerited but yet so freely given. The ultimate reward we will gain one day after we have done our jobs.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com