Keep Up The Hard Work

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2015
Chapters: Luke 17-18 http://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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