Luke 17:7-10 (New International Version, ©2010)
7 “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’? 8 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’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 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.’”
So, I am a very undedicated blogger, because it's been about two months since my last post. Oops! Too much to do, and too many things crowding out space in my brain for reflection and deeper thought. What a shame.
Introductions aside, I was going through my Bible and this passage caught my eye, particularly the last verse, which, I had underlined at one point. This passage is tough to swallow, but not tough to understand. Clearly, as Christ's servants, we are called not just to keep the ten commandments and obstain from murder and sexual immorality, along with avoiding drunkenness, lying, and stealing, but to also purposefully act in ways that please our Father while obstaining from sin. I think it's easy as a Christian to rationalize and say, "Well, God, you know I never tell a lie and don't go to crazy parties. I'd never even think of taking something without buying it, and of course, you know murder is out of the question because I risk my life dodging small creatures on the road..." (maybe your train of thought is different, but that's my first response) Yes, He says, you don't do those things, but what HAVE you done? Did you encourage your roommates today, even though you yourself needed encouragement? Did you explain to that man, when he asked you about religion, that he too can have a relationship with me? Did you seek my face throughout the day, setting time aside to read my truths and listen to my voice, instead of ________? (fill in the blank)
It's easy to be a Christian that avoids the obvious sins. The kind of person that people assume is Christian because nothing in their life screams otherwise. But does your life scream, without question, that you are in love with Jesus and His people? If so, you (and I) will have to do more than flee temptation, but also put on our work gloves, tie our running shoes, and get active. Actively love Him and others, by doing those things which only a believer would do, that only Jesus would do.
