by Eric Holter on June 10, 2006
“So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”
Luke 17:10
The context for this exhortation toward unassuming, obligatory service is Jesus’ command to forgive – even the same person seven times in the same day. Because I am forgiven so much and so often, withholding forgiveness or presuming that my forgiving is a big deal is laughable. When I forgive it’s no great shakes – I’m only fulfilling my most basic obligation as a forgiven sinner.
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by Eric Holter on May 10, 2005
“…and they brought Him up… to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.’”
Luke 2:24
What? Shall the Redeemer be redeemed by a couple of pigeons? Such irony! Jesus, who would redeem us by His own blood, was, if such a thing were possible, redeemed according to the Law of Moses with a couple of birds. Not even a proper lamb, but rather the poor man’s provision of two pigeons. Little did Joseph and Mary know that this baby they were redeeming with inexpensive birds was Himself the perfect Lamb of God. As the necks of these birds were nipped, and their blood ran down upon the altar, so too this child’s blood would run, for the Lord was providing Himself a Lamb for the offering.
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by Eric Holter on April 15, 2004
“Thy people will volunteer freely in the day of Thy power.”
Psalms 110:3
When Jesus comes to rule the earth, when his strong scepter stretches forth from Zion, His people will volunteer freely and willingly to serve Him. We will volunteer freely, without being pressed into service. We will not volunteer under compulsion, nothing else will compete for our attention or draw us away from serving the Lord our king. We will not serve out of self-disciplined determination. Rather, our motivation will be full and free, like the sun shining forth at dawn, like dew that saturates the ground. We will sign up for duty – not for pay, or to gain some other desire we think might result from serving. We will volunteer freely, willingly, gladly!
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