Sin, Faith, and Duty...
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 4:46AM 
Greetings, Dear Friends!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a comment, share a story or insight, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend!
As most of you know, I have a new radio show, Live the Promise with Susie Larson. The program airs every Saturday morning from noon to 1:00 CST. And guess what? We may be going live-daily in the fall! I have a special prayer request for you: Will you stand with me in believing God for a sponsor for the show? I'll keep you posted. Thank you so much!
Last week my guest was syndicated radio host and author Jim Burns. We discussed his great book, "Closer: Devotions to Draw Couples Together." We had an excellent interview and Jim offered lots of great wisdom for couples.
Check out the podcast from that show.
And, I am excited about this week's show! Listen in as I interview co-authors of the great book, "Wisdom Walks." Dan Britton and Jimmy Page serve at an executive level for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. They were hilariously funny and wonderfully wise. You'll enjoy this interview. Listen in on KTIS AM 900, or listen online at: www.faith900.com
Now on to my topic...
One of my favorite things to do is to meditate on certain passages of Scripture for several days in a row; to think through and ponder the truth and how it applies to my life and to the culture in which we live.
This past week I kept coming back to a certain passage from the Gospel of Luke. I'll share it in just a moment. But first, I want to ask you a question (borrowed from AA's 12-Step Program): How often do you take a fearless, searching moral inventory of your life?
Though I'm not much of a gardner, I know that true gardeners are on top of the weeds that threaten the seeds they've planted. They regularly survey their land and quickly uproot that which would choke out life so that life in the garden might prevail.
Let's take a look at three areas in our own lives that may need a little attention.
Sin:
First, let's read from Luke 17:1, 3
Jesus said to His disciples, "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come...So watch yourselves."
Let's pray:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts; point out anything in me that offends You (Ps. 39). Show me any area in my life that causes others to stumble. I know I have blind spots that everybody sees but me. By Your grace and mercy, help me to humbly receive Your help in my place of need. I do not want to make others stumble. I want to be a wellspring of Life because Your power is mightily at work in and through me! Raise up a new standard in my life, Lord. Amen.
Faith:
(Jesus said): If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea', and it will obey you." (Luke 17:6)
Let's pray:
Father, increase my faith! When I take inventory of my life, I want to see tangible increases in faith steps, faith results, and faith endeavors. I don't want to live a self-protected, small life! Forgive me for the countless ways I play it safe when You are calling me to a great adventure! You call me to speak to my mountains and speak to my obstacles (not to wish, whine, and complain about them). Help me to become a mighty woman of faith - filled with the power of the Holy Spirit - moved by Your heart for the world! You are looking over the earth, searching for faith; may You find it in me.
Duty:
(Jesus said): Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the feild, 'Come along now and sit down to eat?' Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink?' Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants, we have only done our duty.'" (Luke 17:7-10).
Let's pray:
Precious Lord, this passage convicts me deeply. How many times have I complained about the cost or expected others to notice and understand my sacrifice? Father, forgive me for selfish serving! Forgive me for expecting a thank you when, really, I was only doing my duty! It's an honor to be linked in fellowship with You! It's an honor to serve You. Help me to live in this self-entitled culture with an honorable, servant's heart. May I serve and live for an audience of One. My hope is in you, my purpose is found in You, and You get all of the glory for transforming me from an orphan to an heir. Blessed be Your Name. Amen.
May we walk in such close fellowship with the Savior that our very lives on earth nourish and bless others (and never cause another to stumble). May we be ever-increasing in faith and may our lives bear tangible evidence of this fact. And may we serve not to get the credit or a thank you or to be noticed, but may we humbly do our duty as unto the Lord - just because He's worth our absolute best. We could be stuck in a tyrannical system, but we're not. We serve a loving-living God who cares deeply for us. He deserves the best we can give Him.
~Until next week
Reader Comments (8)
You are so sweet! Always so willing to search your own heart. Love that about you. :) I know for me, it's important and wise to do a soul check every once in a while. The passage from Luke 17 served as a plumb line for me. Bless you, sister!
Thanks for the post. I know this was a tougher one to read (but it felt important to post). :) I so appreciate your heart for the Lord! Blessings, dear one.
You said it better than I did! As part of God's family, there are some things you just do. Love that. We are so used to living lives of entitlement and payback for every sacrifice. Lord, give us humble, servant hearts! Bless you, my sister.