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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
In Luke Chapter 17, after warning us about causing people to stumble and sin, Jesus then goes on to speak about forgiveness - about forgiving people - "when those around us ask for forgiveness, forgive them."
Then Jesus speaks about 'faith'. Don't ask for more faith - use the faith you have - let it grow and develop and mature and become strong. Faith is like a muscle - the more it is used the stronger it becomes.
Now, Jesus says - Suppose one of you had a servant, and the servant has been ploughing or looking after the sheep, when the servant comes in, will you say to your servant – ‘Now, you just sit down and eat’?
Much of our Christian work is either ploughing or shepherding. We are either breaking up ground in which the seed of The Word of God is being sown and planted, or we are dealing with the problems of the sheep.
When the servant comes in, he has more work to do. He now has to prepare the master's meal, and later on, when his duties are finished and completed, he can sit down himself and eat.
Does the master offer a special vote of thanks to the servant just because he did what he was commanded to do? NO. Then Jesus adds - so you also - when you have done everything you were told to do - just say - "We are unworthy servants - we have only done our duty."
Jesus is challenging us in these words - these are searching words - which can shake us in so many ways. What is Jesus saying to us? Jesus is teaching disciples of all ages not to look for thanks and praise for simply doing their duty.
When we do things in Jesus Name, yes, it can be encouraging to receive a word of thanks, but we are NOT to look for it. And, we are not to become disappointed or depressed when the thanks does NOT come. But, it is good to express thanks. Thank people for what they do - what they say - how they minister.
When you have finished your first task, there is another waiting for you. Jesus Christ is preparing these men for service - for work and ministry in the Kingdom - and there was going to be lots of it - and there is still is.
Jesus is teaching us here - that we have no rights! We hear people speak about their rights. None of us here has rights, except to serve with devotion and duty and faithfulness, because we love our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ.
We never hear Jesus speaking about His rights. He laid all that aside. He laid aside position - glory - everything.
We are not doing God a favour when we serve in some way in The Church of Jesus Christ. When we are given the opportunity to serve God, we should be grateful - "Thank You Father that YOU have called us to serve YOU and to do this work. Thank You Jesus that we can minister in this way. We praise YOU for this."
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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