Tuesday, September 22, 2020

UNPROFITABLE SERVANTS

Today’s Reading: Luke 17-18

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).

 

This is a millstone from the time of Christ that was uncovered in Capernaum on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.

Key Verses: Luke 17:2 & 10

It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones…

So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’

 

Imagine the millstone pictured above hung around someone’s neck. Imagine that person with the weight of that stone being cast into the sea. Jesus presented very graphic word pictures. Jesus goes on to teach that if someone sins against us seven times in one day and says to us, “I repent,” we are to forgive that person. All this is humanly impossible. No wonder the disciples said to Jesus, “Increase our faith.” Jesus’ response to this request is as follows: First, take the tiny mustard seed faith we already have, and take authority over the mulberry tree and its roots. Get rid of any unnecessary thing that would take up space in our lives so that we’ll have more room for an increased level of faith. Second, consider ourselves “unprofitable servants.” Being small in our own eyes will leave more room for an increase of faith. Check out 1 Samuel 15:17 and 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I’m getting rid of anything that would clutter up my life. Please help me to identify the “mulberry tree.” Also, Lord, I humble myself before You and consider myself an “unprofitable servant.” Please fill the additional space now available with an increase in my faith in You. Thank You Lord! In the Name of Jesus I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I will never forget one of our frequent guests on the 100 Huntley Street telecast, the late Dr. John Wesley White. He was a native of Saskatchewan, an associate evangelist with Billy Graham, and a PhD from Oxford University. The very first time on air with me he looked into the camera and said to the viewers, “God has given you a guarantee that if a person will simply pray, ‘God be merciful to me, a sinner,’ that precious person will be made right with God.” I believe that millions have been justified as a result of humbly praying that prayer (Luke 18:13-14). Another guarantee from God is found in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Yours for the sure knowledge that we are justified before God by believing and acting upon His Word  (“Mustard seed” faith is simply enough faith to do exactly what God tells us to do in His Word!!!),

David (the man who goes way over his 100 words, particularly in the P.S. below)

P.S. Here’s more on the historical accuracy and reliability of the Scriptures. The writer of 14 books of the Greek language New Testament Scriptures, the Apostle Paul, had a name change. Before his conversion to Jesus Christ (Acts 9), he was known as Saul of Tarsus, the fiercest enemy of the new movement of believers in Jesus Christ. He was educated by Rabbi Gamaliel, who was the grandson of Rabbi Hillel, perhaps the most famous Rabbi of all time. Saul had access directly to the High Priest. He asked for, and received, letters of authority to imprison, and even kill, followers of Jesus (Acts 7:58, 8:1).  He approved of the stoning execution of the early church deacon, Stephen. As a person of obvious Jewish religious power, he would have followed closely all the events over the three years of Jesus’ ministry and been aware of Jesus’ teaching, crucifixion, and reported resurrection. His rage was no doubt fuelled by the frustration at not being able to refute any of Jesus’ miracles, particularly Jesus’ resurrection from the dead!!! Therefore, after Saul of Tarsus’ conversion, we find Saul/Paul verifying all the historical records in his writings and teaching!!! Luke, the historian of a 60-70 year period from the birth of Jesus onward, was the constant travelling and ministry companion of the Apostle Paul. It is my firm conviction that if all Luke wrote was not accurate, and if the dozens of places in Paul’s writings where he references Jesus’ life were not reliable, Luke and Paul would have been contradicted by the Jewish historian Josephus, or one of the other contemporaries of Paul with whom he had been educated who had not been converted to Christ. No such contradictions exist!!! Think with me about these P.S. comments. My young friend, Dr. Jeremiah Johnston, has a goal in life – making Christians into thinkers and thinkers into Christians. You can visit his website here.

18 thoughts on “Tuesday, September 22, 2020

  1. Dear Lord God, thank You for caring about even the least, even those who were and are Your enemies. Draw people to You today, Lord. Bless and send out more workers to bring grace and Truth everywhere. Please, Lord, meet all the needs that Your children are lifting up to You. Show people that the Kingdom of God is indeed near. In Jesus’s great name, amen

  2. Amen Rob. I’ve been calling on the Lord all day yesterday and over night. I’m quite ill. I live alone. I don’t want to go to hospital but it looks like I will have to go. Please pray for me I am the overseer of my very handicapped sister and this causes me much anguish. Lord have mercy on us. Thank You. Amen

    • Praying for you now, Doreen.
      Praying for your Sister.
      May God, in His Great Mercy, Heal you and make You whole. May His Peace and Presence be strong in both your lives.🙏🏽

      • Amen to all these prayers for Doreen and her sister. Father, we ask that you give Doreen assurance of Your help in this situation. Please give her the wisdom to know what to do, and we also commit her sister to You, Lord. Please provide all the help and assistance they both need. Thank You, dear Lord God, for being our ever-present Help in all our times of trouble, in Jesus’s great name, amen.

  3. Dear Lord, I humbly come to you asking that you would have mercy on Doreen. I pray that you would give her confidence to go to the emergency Dept. I also pray that you would protect her from harm and danger of Covid 19 when she goes.
    Lord you know all about her, I ask for her healing In the precious Name of Jesus.Amen

    • Eleanor M, agreeing with you in prayer for
      Doreen, that it is our Lord Jesus Christ’s will she is healed and has peace of mind, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

  4. Agreeing in prayer for you Doreen and your sister that the Lord will care for you both and intervene on your behalf. Also I want to thank Irene, Luisa, Teresa for your prayers for my step niece. Also sending prayers for Malene that she will recover. Really like the poem Irene.

  5. Thank you all so very much. I am to see my Dr tomorrow morning early if I can get there. I do hope I will be ok driving. I pray the Lord will give me strength & safety (for all people in my path too). When my strength returns I’ll be able to move on. He is my Strength. Amen. I do also pray for Beverlee & whatever her circumstances are. May He be so very close to her, in Jesus Name. Amen

    • So glad you have an appointment with the Doctor tomorrow Doreen. I will continue to pray for you that the Lord will get you there safely and that you will get answers for the symptoms you have been having.
      I have also been thinking about Beverlee, hopefully we will hear from her soon., also praying for her. ❤️Eleanor M.

  6. May the Lord be with you and Bless you with His healing power Doreen!
    May He also Bless and keep your sister in his care!
    Would it be possible to go to your appt tomorrow in a taxi?

  7. Lord I lift Doreen before you. That she would awake refreshed and energy to make the trip to her doctor, that you would pave the way for her and angels surround her with your loving protection. God we ask for wisdom for the doctor to make the correct diagnosis and that she find favour with the doctor for sufficient time to explain and ask questions. I pray that God’ s peace would be upon you during your coming and going tomorrow. God bless you Doreen.

    Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 15:27

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