Through the lens

Read > Luke 17:1-10

When you obey Me you should say, “We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty” (v. 10).

John Newton’s life is a story of two parts. The author of Amazing Grace lived the first portion of his life far from God. In fact, he spent much of his life as the captain on slave ships, often wrestling with his own sinfulness and doubt. But when he came to understand the words and claims of Jesus Christ, his life changed drastically.

Have you ever wondered how your pre-Christian self would view the way you live today? So much of the Christian life makes no sense in the world’s eyes. It makes sense only as we view life through God’s lens.

Living God’s way is rarely easy. It’s painful to acknowledge and wrestle with our sin. We struggle to fight against it, and we all experience the sadness of seeing its impact on those we love. Jesus said, “There will always be temptations to sin” (Luke 17:1). But He calls us to fight against it with urgency (vv. 1-4) – both the sin in our lives and in the lives of other believers (v. 3).

These words of Jesus teach us to do something else we find unnatural – to trust God completely (v. 6). We find it difficult to rest in God’s provision, but throughout the Bible He has shown himself to be trustworthy and faithful. When we look through His lens and see that we are His “unworthy servants” (v. 10) and that He alone is God, we can fall at His feet in complete trust.

Without our understanding of the character of God, living the Christian life would lack vision and hope. But because we can rest in God’s faithful character, we can live focused, hope-filled lives for Him.

Make sure you’re seeing life through God’s lens, as John Newton did. He understood the demands of Luke 17:10 and lived his life as a true unworthy servant. That should be our view as well. – Jon Lindsay

More >

·         Matthew 18:21-35

·         1 Corinthians 4:1-3

·         Hebrews 11:6

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What does it mean for you to live the life of an unworthy servant before God? How will you deepen your trust in God and His provision?