ESOCS Devotional 19 April 2023
MEMORY VERSE: “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.” Luke 17:10
TEXT: LUKE 17:1-19
esus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 So watch yourselves.
“If your brother or sister[a] sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
7 “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 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.’”
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[b] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
What is it with Samaritans who were not regarded as worthy partakers of godly inheritance with the Jews that they always seem to come out better than the Jews? The Samaritan woman readily accepted Jesus as the Messiah, broadcasted the news and when she took Him into the town, the Samaritans readily accepted Him. When the Levite and the Priest refused to show mercy and help the man attacked by robbers, it was a Samaritan that came to his aid and took all necessary steps to ensure he fully recovered. And now again, among ten lepers that were healed, only the Samaritan appreciated what Jesus did and came back and fell at Jesus’s feet in thanksgiving. The others who were most probably Jews took their healing for granted and did not see it necessary to say thank you and give God the glory. Many times people of God grow cold and outsiders are more eager.
Perhaps the more appropriate question to ask should be what is wrong with the Jews? They seem not to be able to see the King and the Messiah in Jesus despite their godly heritage, the testimonies of the Prophets, His announcement by John, His teachings and the great miracles He did among them. Jesus seeing this, denounced those in Israel who did not believe in spite of the great miracles He performed among them. In Matthew 11:21-24 He said, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
The experience of the Israelites is a warning and a lesson to all believers. They allowed their election and sanctification unto God to get into their head so much so that they became conceited. The grace of God and His miracles in their life was a common place occurrence. He had done great things for them and made them stand out among the nations. Unfortunately, they took these things for granted and no longer appreciated God. This was their undoing. When you don’t appreciate God, you lose touch with Him and lose yourself. Israel shot themselves in the foot. Be sure you don’t.
- Why do you think new members show more seriousness in prayers?
- Why do older members take things easier?
- Gracious Lord, I acknowledge that you are my Lord, the reason why I am. I appreciate you for all you are and all you have done. Be everything to me and remain supreme in my life today and forever. Amen
FURTHER READING: Exodus 24:1-11; 13:3-10; Matthew 26:50-56; John 15:18-end
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ESOCS Devotional 19 April 2023
