No Thanks Necessary

I've been reading through the book of Luke. Jesus had a lot of teaching that takes a while to digest.
I was in chapter 17 of Luke's gospel yesterday. One passage stood out. One that has never stood out to me before. Here's what it said:

"Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at the table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'?
Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?
So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'" (Luke 17:7-10)

I've learned that when a passage sticks out like that, the Holy Spirit is teaching. It's time to listen.

Here's what I have learned so far:

1) I sometimes behave as if I deserve some sort of extra credit for doing things to help others or for sharing my faith or a bit of testimony with someone. What is really happening is that I'm just doing regularly assigned work. (Eph. 2:10)

2) The eternal and more meaningful reward for my work won't be received here, so it is silly to seek any kind of recognition here.(Matthew 6:1-6)

3) I am the servant in this scenario, not the Master.

God is AWESOME!

R. I. P. Peanut

Peanut was our pug. She was 13 years old. She was given to us by a co-worker of mine who was moving and couldn't take her with him.

She was so tiny. Peanut was blind, and a little hard of hearing. She learned her way around the house fairly quickly. She was very smart, and had a wonderful personality. We loved her from the day we got her.

My wife and I made up a whole back story for her. Her real name was Wilimina, Queen of Pugland. There was a revolution happening in Pugland, so she was sent here for her own protection. She was given the code name Peanut. She would return to Pugland as soon as it had been liberated by her Royal Army.

Pugland has been liberated today. Her Majesty is gone. She will be missed.

Rest in peace, Peanut. We loved you very much. You can see now and you play in the beautiful fields of Heaven.

Hope

I enjoy talk radio. I was listening to a local talk show on my way home from work today.
A man called in and said that he spent his July 4th standing down town with an American flag to honor our military. I think that's great. Our troops should be honored for what they do and the sacrifices they make on a daily basis. They are the brave that make us free.
The man on the radio talked about how the flag is a symbol and how it is where our hope is.
That is where he and I parted company. Of course I realize what he meant by that, but on a much deeper level, I disagree.
As Christians, our hope is not found in a flag, in a country, in a government or in a man. Our hope is in Christ Jesus alone.
This world has nothing to offer us in the way of hope. We are a fallen race in a fallen world. The one who places their hope in anything other than Christ will find only disappointment, confusion and despair.
We cling to the hope held out by Christ alone. He is our only hope, our only salvation. In Him is our joy and peace everlasting. (Isaiah 9:6-7)


God is AWESOME!