Today’s scripture: Luke 17:7-10 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Sue Robinson):
I always wondered about why Jesus spoke so matter-of-factly about slavery. From where we are today, it has the ugliest of connotations.
But in Jesus’ day, slavery was a fact of life. Slaves were sometimes in their position because of a debt owed. Sometimes they were prisoners of a war. Or sometimes they volunteered to indenture themselves because they had no other means of support. They spanned all racial and national boundaries. But if you had a slave, it was expected that they be treated with a measure of fairness — there are even regulations (at least for the Hebrew people) in the Torah.
That said, they were not 9-to-5 employees. They were always on call at the master’s whim. Their day didn’t end until all of their duties were attended to.
Jesus asks his disciples if they thought those who had servants would expect them to perform the duties assigned to them. What thanks should they expect if that was their responsibility? They were only doing what was required.
We are taught when we become followers of Christ that we are to have a servant’s heart. Yes, there are certain things we would always do just because it seems right as Christians. But does it stop there? Is the only obligation to Jesus our “9-to-5” mentality or more exactly our “Sunday morning” Christianity?
The disciples asked Jesus in this passage to increase their faith. Jesus answered by showing them that whenever they do more than just what is expected, they are true servants.
Thought for the day: Lord, please help me to want a true servant’s heart. Let me see the need to do more than the bare minimum, not ruled by obligation, but by love.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.