In today’s post, we’ll cover days fifteen through eighteen of the 40 Days With the Storyteller reading plan for Lent and talk about love, mercy, service, forgiveness, and choosing best.
Day 15 John 10:1-18 The Good Shepherd
In the passage for day fifteen, Jesus give us an illustration (not technically a parable) of what He has done for mankind and what He has done for Christians.
Jesus tells us that He came to be both the Door and the Good Shepherd.
“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:9
Yes, Jesus is the Door that welcomes us into God’s “sheepfold.” When we enter into relationship with God through Jesus, we are safe in His care. He can then lead us “in and out.” This doesn’t mean out, away from Him, but is simply an illustration of what shepherds did – they led their flocks in and out to find pastures (food) and rest.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
Some days I feel sheep-like; I’m confused by overwhelming decisions, or I feel like tasty bait for the enemy. I need guidance and protection from God!
The truth is that every day I need God’s help! Maybe especially when I think I have things figured out. Each day, I can choose to seek Him. I need Him to lead me to still waters and green pastures. I need Him to restore my soul. (Psalm 23.) And I can take confidence in the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the eternal well-being of His sheep!
I am thankful that Jesus tells us in this passage (and again in verses 27-30) that we will recognize His voice. What a rich promise from our humble, servant-Savior! What glorious words from the one who was willing to die in our place!
FOCUS: Our Good Shepherd has laid down his life for us and we will recognize His voice.
QUESTION: How can you listen today for Jesus’ voice?
Day 16 – Luke 17:7-10 The Unworthy Servants
In this passage, we learn about the right attitude of God’s servants, by being shown the wrong attitude. We serve God because it is our duty, honor, and privilege!
“People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply paid back as a small part of a great debt owing to our God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say, rather, it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this be only for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall hereafter be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice. Of this we ought not to talk, when we remember the great sacrifice which He made who left His Father’s throne on high to give Himself for us.” – David Livingstone, Scottish missionary to Africa in the mid-1800’s
Doesn’t this quote reveal the right spirit of a servant?
Likewise, Jesus reveals the heart of a servant in John 13 where He washes the disciples’ feet and teaches us about forgiveness and humility.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. – John 13:14
We should do as Jesus does. It makes me pause and check my heart. Am I serving for His glory, or for my own? Am I serving because I’m seeking rewards or to glorify God, who has awarded me eternal life?
FOCUS: Serving God is our humble duty, honor, and privilege.
QUESTION: How are you serving that you count as an honor and privilege, only doing your duty?
Day 17 – Matthew 18:23-35 The Unforgiving Servant
Did you get a little mad at the servant in today’s passage? He’s a weasel, isn’t he? He pleads for forgiveness and mercy from his master, and then shows no mercy to his fellow servant who owed him! Wow.
It makes me stop and think, though. Have I acted like that? I’m sure the answer is yes. Being Christ-like doesn’t come naturally, which is one reason I’m thankful for the help of the Holy Spirit and the guidance found in the Word. You see, the Bible is more than just a moralistic book that gives us guidelines of how to be or not to be. Instead, it paints the picture of God’s people needing Him – Father, Savior, and Spirit. And I need Him! I need the Spirit’s help and guidance, the Father’s love, and Jesus’ teachings and propitiation of sin.
The servant in this parable had a merciful master, just like we do!
I like this, from GotQuestions, regarding this parable:
“…forgiveness should be in like proportion to the amount forgiven. The first servant had been forgiven all, and he then should have forgiven all. In like manner, a child of God by faith through Christ has had all sins forgiven. Therefore, when someone offends or sins against us we should be willing to forgive him from a heart of gratitude for the grace to which we ourselves are debtors.”
FOCUS: I should show forgiveness to others like Jesus does to me.
QUESTION: How can you show mercy today?
Luke 10:29-42 Choosing Best – The Good Samaritan and Mary, Martha’s Sister
If you’ve been a Christian for long, you’ve likely heard the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus tells this story to expand on how to “love your neighbor as yourself.” But just who is our neighbor?
The story explains how a man fell victim to brutal robbers who beat him and left him for dead and how three people encountered him, but only one helped.
The first two people, a priest and a Levite, were holy on the outside. The looked the part and talked the talk, but didn’t walk the walk. Their hearts weren’t where they should have been. When they saw the man left for dead, they put their own concerns, agendas, and desires above the needs of a dying man!
But the Samaritan? He stopped and went above and beyond to help this poor soul! Rather than pass by the opportunity to show true love, the man in the parable tended wounds, transported him to an inn, cared for him, and paid for his ongoing care.
This story leaves a big impression on me, but probably made an even bigger impression on the original audience! See, the Jews despised the Samaritans because of their mixed Gentile ancestry and different practice of worship. Yet, it was the Samaritan that was the true neighbor.
The Good Samaritan choose best. He chose to give love without holding back, like Jesus did. Christ taught us what true love looks like by demonstrating it firsthand in becoming the Door to God’s fold, being our Good Shepherd who died on a cross to take our sin, and also in showing us through the parables and illustrations.
Mary also chose best; Jesus called it “the good portion.” Martha was wise to go to Jesus with her frustrations and we can learn from her faith! But in this incident, it was Mary who was already there, sitting at His feet and listening to His voice.
Love, mercy, service, forgiveness, and choosing best.
Jesus teaches us the importance of these things. We should set aside our prejudices and treat others as He would want, as we would want them to treat us, and with love toward anyone we encounter. This is what choosing best looks like!
FOCUS: Jesus shows us how to love best and how to choose the good portion.
QUESTION: Who is your neighbor? Who can you show love to today? How can you choose best today?
Feel free to share with us in the comments or in our DoNotDepart Community group on Facebook.
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