Do you live getful, forgetful or grateful?

Luke 17:1-19

This passage focuses on a few different themes including faith, personal accountability and attitudes. These days we love to acknowledge the freedom we have in Christ but many of us are too reckless with how we practice this freedom and how it might affect those around us. Jesus says that if we are the cause of others to be tempted then it would be better that were dead. I’m guessing He means that it’s a big deal. We will be judged not just on how we handle ourselves before God in or personal lives but also our public lives and need to think of other’s needs before ourselves.

Jesus also wants us to know that even the smallest faith, when acted on, can be used in powerful ways. We all underestimate the power of God in our lives. Too often we want to use the power of God for Him to do what we want when we want it, not to do His will, whatever it may be for us. If we lived surrendered and faith-filled lives it would be amazing to see how God could use us for His glory, not ours.

                The next parable and encounter with the leprous men both deal with proper attitudes and viewing ourselves in our proper place in God’s kingdom.  No matter who we are, we are servants to God. We should live lives with a servant’s attitude, thinking of others as more important than ourselves and looking to meet their needs before our own. Certainly we should actively seek God’s purposes for our lives before our own. This carries over into the gratitude, or lack thereof, that we see with the leprous men. Only was responded gratefully for the amazing miraculous healing the Jesus performed for them. Interestingly, a Samaritan of all people, outcasts in Jewish society weather leprous or not. He was the only one who had the wherewithal to thank Jesus for what He had done.

                Jesus has been so forgiving, and given us so much. How do we respond? Do we forgive others quickly? Do we live grateful lives? Do we encourage others to live holy lives or do we have no regard for how our actions might affect those around us? We all need to live as servants of the King, grateful to be in His service and ready to do His bidding.