[:en]SCRIPTURE: LUKE 17
Bible Verse:
“So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” (Luke 17:3-4)
““If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” (Luke 17:6)
“Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:17-19)
““The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation” (Luke 17:22-25)
SIN, FAITH, DUTY (vs. 1-10)
Sin – Watch yourselves! Do not cause any of the little ones to sin. If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him (vs. 1-4)
Faith – If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it will obey you (vs. 5-6)
Duty – It is the duty of a servant to serve. There is no need to thank the servant for what he is told to do (vs. 7-10)
TEN HEALED OF LEPROSY (vs. 11-19)
As Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee, ten men who had leprosy met him and asked Jesus to have pity on them. Jesus healed all of them but only one Samaritan came back to say thanks and give praises to God. The Samaritan received salvation when Jesus said: Rise and go; your faith has made you well” (v. 19)
THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD (vs. 20-37)
There is no set date for the coming of Jesus. Do not believe people saying there he is or here he is. For the Son of Man may be like lightning which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. Just as in the days Noah, people were eating, drinking, marrying, selling, planting and building. But when the flood suddenly came down, it destroyed all. Just like in the days of Lot where people were eating and drinking, the sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
LESSONS:
- Be watchful not to cause any of the little ones to sin. Little ones means new believers as well as children.
- Be forgiving to those who sins against you. Let forgiveness be a habit, not a battle.
- Be faithful to serve and do your duty. There is no need for God to give you a reward because it is your duty to do so.
- Be grateful and thankful for God’s blessings.
- Be ready when Christ returns. Circumstances around may discourage you. But look up and prepare for the Lord’s coming.
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