"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 30 September 2016 with Scripture Luke 17:7-10

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 30 September 2016 with Scripture Luke 17:7-10
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Luke 17:7 If one of you has a slave tending the sheep or plowing, when he comes back from the field, will you say to him, ‘Come along now, sit down and eat’? 8 No, you’ll say, ‘Get my supper ready, dress for work, and serve me until I have finished eating and drinking; after that, you may eat and drink.’ 9 Does he thank the slave because he did what he was told to do? No! 10 It’s the same with you — when you have done everything you were told to do, you should be saying, ‘We’re just ordinary slaves, we have only done our duty.’”[Complete Jewish Bible]
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Jesus' words bother me: No good boss would ask an employee to work all day then come in and serve dinner. I hope no employee would call herself "worthless" after finishing her work. Was life in Jesus' day really so different than ours?
Maybe in these words Jesus provokes his disciples/friends to live as he does--easing the way for the young in faith and forgiving others all day long (17:1-4). Maybe Jesus wants us to know that his way is long and hard, a 24/7 job to be accomplished without fanfare or reward.
What keeps you going on Jesus' way? Why would you commend it to a friend?
Jesus, like yours, our days grow long and hard. Help us to base our value in your love and not in our visible accomplishments. And please, give us hope and faith at the end of the day. Amen.
Brenda Satrum, '93
Faith Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Mont. 
Luke 17:7 "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, "Come here at once and take your place at the table'?
8 Would you not rather say to him, "Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'?
9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded?
10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, "We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'":[New Revised Standard Version]
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