A Good and Faithful Servant « To Every Generation

We pray you are abundantly blessed as you learn from God’s Word this week. Block out a portion of each day to meditate on His Word and allow it to take root in your life. If you take time to write out your answers, you will enjoy deeper insight and create a journal of your spiritual journey.

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This week’s passage focuses on A Good and Faithful Servant. What does God require of His servants and what does that look like?

Scripture

Luke 17:7-10

“Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ “

Sunday

Pray: Lord, as I meditate on Your Word today, help me see You in a way I never have before. Help me see this portion of Your Word in a new light. Drive it deep into my soul so it becomes an integral part of my life.

Spend several minutes meditating on Luke 17:7-10. Consider it phrase-by-phrase. Write down key words or phrases that seem to “jump out” at you and any insights you receive from God.

Monday

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. . . .

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:3-5, 12-17

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

No one said the Christian life would be easy. Jesus, Himself, promised troubles. But we can rest knowing that whatever problems we face, they are for our growth.

Often, Christ requires difficult things of us – impossible things, outside of His power. But, when we learn to trust Him and follow Him, we grow and learn and better reflect His glory.

What does Jesus require of His servants? How faithful are you in that service?

Pray: Lord, help me to serve as you served. Give me power to love as you love.

Tuesday

As a family, in anticipation of the theater release of Prince Caspian, we are reading the book by the same title. At one point, Aslan sends Peter and Edmund into the How where they overhear a disturbing conversation that ends in a battle.

When the dust has settled, High King Peter greets each of the survivors, thanking them for their faithfulness. His last greeting is to Trufflehunter, the badger. I’ll quote from the book:

“Best of badgers,” [Peter] said. “You never doubted us all through.”

“No credit to me, Majesty,” said Trufflehunter. “I am a beast and we don’t change. I’m a badger, what’s more, and we hold on.”(1)

Trufflehunter had never doubted help would come and seemed to know that it would be in the help of the Kings and Queens from the past. Even when all seemed hopeless and everyone mocked her for her faithfulness, the badger never quit believing. But when thanked, she had one response: I only did what I needed to do.

That is how we should be. We serve because we are commanded to and because we love our Master. When it is time to be in His presence, we first serve Him through our worship, then we may, ourselves be fed.

If we are faithful, in the end, He will say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant” Matthew 25:21,23

Our response will be, “I only did what You required of me. Thank You for allowing me to serve.”

What does the Lord require of you today? How faithful are you in responding with thankful obedience?

Pray: Lord, soften my heart to Your ways. Cause me always to respond, always with “Yes, Lord,” and immediate obedience.

Wednesday

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40

I admit it: I am a 21st century American capitalist. I like having the ability to choose my own job, establish my own business, and run it how I want (within legal and ethical bounds, of course). I also like keeping (most of) the money I make.

The thought of working all day, then turning around and waiting on someone else while I’m tired and hungry, flies in the face of the me-first generation I grew up in. But then I became a Mom.

Babies don’t care if you’ve just worked all day. When they’re hungry, they want fed. They don’t care if you’ve already washed four loads of laundry. If they are wet, they want changed – and into dry clothes, thank-you-very-much. If you are tired and they are not, guess who wins the sleep-depravation battle. But we do it, lovingly, because we love the child.

The master in Luke 17 probably had done some work during the day – but more than likely, not nearly the level of physical labor required of the servant. Yet, when the servant arrived at the house in the evening, he had to prepare supper and serve the master before he, himself, could eat.

It would be good for us to learn to love and serve each other in the same way. What if, when you got home, you saw the floor needed vacuuming – and pulled out the vacuum instead of waiting for your spouse to do so. What would happen if, when the local body of believers needed someone to help in the nursery (or youth), there were several volunteers eager to serve their Lord? What would happen if we put the needs of our family and the Kingdom of Christ above our own feelings and desires? What would our world look like?

In what areas is God stretching you for better service?

Pray: Lord, give me an overwhelming love for those around me, so it is a pleasure to serve them. Help me see my service to them as a reflection of my love for You.

Thursday

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

It’s not always easy to show love. But God requires it.

Some days, when I’m feeling selfish, I don’t want to serve. I don’t want to forgive. I don’t want to trust or believe. I want to give up. But God requires it.

In another section of Prince Caspian, Aslan has just shown himself to Lucy and told her to follow him. She, also, must tell the others to follow her. Since they cannot see her, and she is the youngest, they were rather rude and reluctant to follow. But she must do as the Lion has commanded.

“Lucy went first, biting her lip and trying not to say all the thins she thought of saying to Susan. But she forgot them when she fixed her eyes on Aslan. He turned and walked a slow pace about thirty yards ahead of them. . . .

He led them to the right of the dancing trees – whether they were dancing nobody knew, for Lucy had her eyes on the lion and the rest had their eyes on Lucy.” (1)

Aslan required her to follow. She did, and as she focused on Him, the pains and distractions fell away. And, in the end, it worked out best.

Where is your focus? What things do you need to forget as you fix your eyes on the Lion of the Tribe of Judah?

Pray: Lord Jesus, help me to stay focused on You and the task you have required. Not for fame, fortune, or reward, but for the joy of serving You and doing what You require.

Friday

Review your journaling for this past week. What themes run throughout your thoughts?

Pray: Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me _________________________________________ (You fill in the blank.) Show me how You want me to grow.

Record His answer in your journal.

Saturday
Spend some time in focused prayer today, reflecting on the requirements of a Servant of Christ.

Pray: Thank you, Lord Jesus for choosing me before the creation of the world and calling me to be your servant. Keep me faithful, not out of duty or guilt, but out of love for you.