LUKE 17 (Part 1): JUST JESUS

 I recently reacted to a Facebook post
that said,
“Jesus didn’t say to follow Christians." 
Jesus said, “Follow me.”

I said,
“Imagine what would happen
if we got back to the basics!
No hype! No gimmicks!
No prideful intent!
Just Jesus!"

So it didn't surprise me 
when I read in Luke 17:1,
”There will always be
temptations to sin,”
but more importantly
“what sorrow awaits
the person who does the tempting!”

My God!
This is so humbling.
If that is not enough discipline
to shake pride out of the bride,
then I don’t know what will!

Jesus said,
“It would be better to be thrown into the sea
with a millstone hung around your neck
than to cause one of these little ones
to fall into sin.
So watch yourselves!
If another believer sins, rebuke that person;
then if there is repentance, forgive.
Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day
and each time turns again and asks forgiveness,
you must forgive.”
Luke 17:2-4

We don’t teach this concept 
of accountability,
in modern-day Christianity.
Instead we gossip 
and become back-biting.
We make excuses and rationalize
why it’s not even worth our time
to untwist the truth that came from a lie.
And it’s usually because 
we’d rather run and hide
than have to rebuke another man,
especially when we are all 
prone to sin.
What if we say something
that hurts our relationship?
What if our approach is met
with resistance?
What if we go in love,
only to receive an angry shove?
Who am I to rebuke?
Who am I to judge?
Since I am a sinner, 
just like them!

Then there’s the command
to forgive.
This feels like another trick!
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
And now Jesus is telling me
I have to forgive,
if they continue to say
they are sorry?
Do you know how many times,
He commands us
to swallow our pride?
In Matthew 18:22,
Jesus tells us
seventy times seven times!

How do we do this?
How do we forgive a man 490 times,
when he continues to make
the same mistake
over and over again?

How do we shed our Christian masks,
and actually become more like Jesus?

The answer is obvious.
Instead of being leaders,
we become more like servants.

Jesus said,
“When a servant comes in
from plowing
or taking care of sheep,
does his master say,
‘Come in and eat with me’?
No, he says,
‘Prepare my meal, 
put on your apron,
and serve me while I eat.
Then you can eat later.’
And does the master 
thank the servant
for doing what he was told to do?
Of course not.
In the same way, 
when you obey me
you should say,
‘We are unworthy servants
who have simply done our duty.’”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭17:7-10‬ ‭

Modern-day Christians
have shifted from the religious,
to no regard for God's holiness.
“Hallowed be thy name”
is replaced with
“You come 
when I call on your name.”
“Blessed be your name,”
has become
“Look at me and see,
how blessed I am.”

Oh God help us!
Continue to cut down
our Trees of Pride.
Teach us to be servants first.
Teach us to pursue the correct ministry.
Teach us to be fishers of men,
by casting out nets like Jesus did.
Help us to remember the true ministry,
the ministry of the reconciliation of men.
Help us to remember
we are unworthy servants
who are simply obeying
and doing our duty.

Imagine what would happen
if we got back to the basics!
No hype! No gimmicks!
No prideful intent!
Just Jesus!

Imagine what would happen then.
Perhaps we would be less like leaders,
and more like servants.