Luke 17:5-10 (Focus on Verses 7-10)
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 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!'”
Devotion
What about those days—maybe most days—when we don’t pay much mind to God, or acknowledge God’s place in our lives. As long as I don’t have need of God today, is that such a big deal?
In this parable, Jesus asks a rhetorical question, “Would any among you tell your slave, ‘Here, you must be tired of having me as your master, so you take my place at the table tonight’?” Of course not!
There’s real danger in presuming to take God’s place at the table. The less we’re aware of it, sitting in God’s place and not even knowing it, the more dangerous it is. When Adam and Eve sought to take God’s place, sin and death entered our world. We do so as well, often oblivious to what we’re doing.
But Jesus strongly rebukes our place-taking. The Master’s place belongs to the Master. Even—maybe especially—when put back in our place, we can say, “Thanks be to God. Amen.”
Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, THINE is the glory. When we ignore you and try to claim the place in our lives that is reserved for you, inspire us instead to always honor you. Amen.