King
James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning
Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Thursday,
October 29, 2015
Chapters: Luke 17-18
https://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-302.html
Message
Title: Keep
Up The Hard Work

Hello My Friend,

Did
you ever notice that we are in a me, myself, and I generation? You
ask someone to do something and the first response is what do they
get out of it. People don't want to work anymore, they want
everything given to them at someone else's expense. Quite often, as
Christians we are the ones working at the expense of others, and the
sad thing is we don't always see a result. The good news is that what
we do never goes unnoticed with God, and while we may from time to
time see some rewards for our hard work here on earth, the majority
of them will be when we see Jesus. “For our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the
things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen
are eternal.” - 2 Corinthians 4:17,18.

Most
people make the assumption that the twelve disciples Jesus had with
Him all the time were of great faith and believers. While most of
them were believers, their faith was no different then ours, in fact,
they were no different than we are today. They often wondered who's
works were greater, who actually will be saved, they got scared and
had lack of faith too. As Jesus talks with them about what was about
to come in the coming days they as Him to increase their faith. “And
the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 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. 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? 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? Doth he
thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him?
I trow not. 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.”
- Luke 17:5-10.

“We are unprofitable servants”
What Jesus is saying is that it takes hard work to increase our
faith, yes, we only need faith the size of a mustard seed, but faith
without works is dead. When we work for people we are servants, while
they may thank us for our hard work, we are not expected to get much
more than that because we are doing our duty. Every job in order to
do it right requires hard work and faith, I build websites and if I
want it to be functional and working properly it takes a lot of work
and my faith that I can do it. I get paid for my work, but don't
expect further rewards because I did my duty., but as long as I keep
doing my duty as though I am unprofitable eventually I see rewards
without even doing anything for them. Likewise, the same is true when
we serve God. “What
doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have
not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and
destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in
peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not
those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even
so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
- James 2:14-17.

“Can
faith save him?” We can faith in what Christ has done,
but if we do not personally accept Him as our Saviour our faith is
dead, it will not save us. Many of the Jews believed and still
believe that the kingdom of God is an actual physical place. Jesus
explains this further. “And when he was
demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he
answered them and said, The kingdom
of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here!
or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Whosoever shall
seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his
life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two
men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the
other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken,
and the other left. And they
answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will
the eagles be gathered together.” - Luke
17:20,21,33-37.

“Thither will
the eagles be gathered together.” Many people take these
verses out of context, some even go as far as making it sexual. This
is referring to the rapture, when all saved souls, will rise up and
literally be saved from judgment. Those in the graves will be raised,
and taken up in the clouds, those who are still alive will be taken
up with them, and the unsaved will be left to see their ruin. The
Jews having made themselves dead carcases over their sinful works and
not having faith in Christ, as eagles flock to dead flesh, so will
death upon those who never receive Christ, regardless of their
inheritance. “And as it is appointed unto men
once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered
to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he
appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” -
Hebrews 9:27,28.

It does take some work to serve God and
follow Christ, they both must be intermittent if we are to see
rewards for our hard work. As the disciples here all these things
about the Kingdom of God, His return, and being His servants, they
begin to wonder what will come of them for following and serving Him.
“Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and
followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily
I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or
brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who
shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the
world to come life everlasting. Then
he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold,
we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the
prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he
shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and
spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and
put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid
from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.”
- Luke 18:28-34.

“Who shall not
receive manifold more in this present time” Exhibited
or appearing at divers (different) times or in various ways. We may
not see all the rewards for living a godly Christian life and doing
the sometimes hard work it takes to be a servant of God, but they
will come at different times, most when we see Jesus. Remember, the
servant is not above His Master, if they mess with Jesus, they will
mess with us, it's going to be hard at times, but we can do all
things through Christ, and all the hard work will be worth it.
“Wherefore seeing we also are
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us
run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus
the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at
the right hand of the throne of God.” -
Hebrews 12:1,2.

Today's
Prayer: God, You have called us to not only be a witness
of the amazing and blessed life we have when we follow You, but to
serve You also. You have given us a great task, one that brings
ravenous wolves and often hard work, and we may not see the results
of it right now, but they will be eternal. Lord, I want to be the
godly and faithful servant You called me to be, give me Your strength
to walk with You, to obey, and serve You with all my heart, spirit,
soul, and mind. In know with You I can do all things, and You will
supply all my needs in Your riches and glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.


God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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