Reflecting on Luke 17:1-10“We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.” (Luke 17:10)
Jesus uses the analogy of a servant or slave doing their duty.
What does the slave think when they do their work?
For them it is their duty, what is expected of them as slaves.
As I see it, Jesus is not endorsing slavery or saying we are unworthy.
He is using a familiar social reality to make His point about our duty to love.
To love as Jesus describes should not be considered abnormal or exceptional.
What God asks of us is not radical – it is just our duty, what we were made for!
This ‘to be expected’ sense of duty is what the call to love should be.
If we understand Who God is, what God is like, LOVE is not unusual.
God’s gracious love is true to God’s identity; it should be to ours too.
Love should be as normal to us, as doing their duty is to a slave.
Not harming others, seeking reconciliation, showing mercy – this is our duty.
And because God is like this, we are not punished like slaves when we don’t do it.
God sees our mustard-seed desire to love; even when we fall short, God is gracious.
Our duty is to aim for love; God will help us if we trust enough to try!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, gracious love should be normal for me as God's image-bearing child... but it is not. Thank You for showing me what love looks like - helping, reconciling, forgiving others! This is a mountain to big for me to move. Help me to trust You enough to try.
‘Love, love, love, love, the gospel in a word is love, Love thy neighbor as thy brother, love, love, love.’
This means I need to be like Christ Jesus unto others. I need to be His channel of peace. With His leading by His Spirit I am able to do this in a small way. Starting the day with Him, walking with Him throughout the day, talking with my Saviour Who encourages me along the way is the only way I may be an instrument of His peace.