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June 26 Daily Devotional

Working for the Lord

Peter G. Feenstra

“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.’ ” Luke 17:10

Bible Reading

Luke 17:7–10

Devotional

After a hard day at work we appreciate having an opportunity to relax. Repeatedly, however, the Bible makes clear that working for the Lord does not make life easy. Much work needs to be done! Jesus tells His disciples a story about a servant who serves his master after a hard day at work. The servant has no reason to complain about how busy he is, because this is what he is required to do as a servant.

Jesus poses three questions to clarify how working for the Lord requires unending service. First, Jesus asks, “And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?” The question expects the answer, “No, of course not.” The work the servant does after a long, hard day out in the field is part of his duty. The Lord Jesus asks a second question, “But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’?” The servant is not his master’s equal. Jesus poses a third question: “Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him?” Does the servant deserve special rewards or a word of thanks because he did what the master commanded? The master might express appreciation to his servant at the end of a day’s work with a friendly word of thanks but he doesn’t owe it to his servant. The servant does not deserve any special consideration or recognition. He has done the work he was called to do.

Jesus makes a direct application, “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.’”

The disciples needed to hear this and so do we! Life is busy and we often come home tired. Yet God’s children, who aim to please Him, do what He asks with gladness of heart, in a spirit of love and deep gratitude. When we understand our Christian duty and believe the Lord will give us the strength to fulfill our task we will be less inclined to complain about our busyness. Let’s keep in mind that we are working for Him who gave His life for us. Our Master became a servant to grant us salvation and freedom from the slavery of sin. It is a great privilege to be working for the Lord, don’t you think?

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