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| May 17, 2002, Wednesday Luke Chapter 17 "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" (Lk 17:10). We are unprofitable. Certainly we are profitable being the physical presence and dwelling place of the Holy Spirit; messengers through which God can send His message of salvation and love. "The kingdom of God is within you" (Lk 17:21). But this is our duty. We ought not to look for special reward and recognition as we strive to fulfill the will of God and to comply with His commands. We will definitely reap the rewards of following after His desires when we stand before Him and hear the satisfied words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant" (Mt 25:21). But even when we are assured that we are pleasing God and that He will reward us richly for our service to Him, we ought not to be greedy and say that we deserve those rewards. We do not deserve anything, not even our salvation nor redemption. That's what grace is all about. We are still unprofitable. We are doing nothing more than what we ought to be doing. Only through abasing ourselves into humility can we truly please God. Acknowledging Him Lord over all and being thankful and eager for the privilege of being one of the Almighty's servants and He will provide and bless His body, the church. "It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 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" (Lk 17:1,2). The consequences of one who is against God is grave. One of the my deepest concerns is that I would use myself, according to my fleshly desires, fallen under the temptations of the world and the devil, and being used for evil purposes, would lead someone to stray from God, to be a distraction to a believer, to be an offence to the body of Christ, of whom I also am part. I would be a self-destructive force, breaking the unity of the church with the vine. Therefore, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (2 Peter 5:8). *end of excerpt* |