Blue Moods

Do you ever get in a blue mood?  Feel like a blue-footed booby? Down on yourself? I sometimes do. I’ll bet you do too.  Do you think this self-flagellation pleases Jesus?  I don’t either.  He loves us just as we are.

Then why does Jesus say that we are to say this? “When you have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants:  We have done what was our duty to do.” Luke 17:10?  Doesn’t that sound like we are affirming a downer on ourselves? Unprofitable. Useless. Good for nothing. Doesn’t that sound like self-flagellation?

Here’s the parable that Jesus told which contains that statement: And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

Now if I was in a blue mood and I read that scripture, I would feel even worse!  I mean Jesus did say, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”  So haven’t we done well to obey. Shouldn’t we get an “atta boy”?  “atta girl”?  I mean, when I finish doing a hard ministry, I usually go back to Jesus and tell Him I need an “atta girl”. So I suppose that’s why this scripture hit me in the face?

I asked the Lord what on earth does this scripture mean? Was I wrong in asking for affirmation after obeying Your requests for ministry?

So after talking with Heavenly Papa about this, I believe this shocking Jesus statement we are discussing goes back to verse 5 and 6:  And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Faith. Faith. It’s all about faith and trust–speaking faith and trust. Forgiving is about faith. Faith that God has forgiven me. Faith that God also loves the person who hurt me. Faith that God will reward me when I obey.

But more than that. God wants me to use my faith to the MAX! He wants me to USE the faith that I have. To use it, and use it, and use it again! His delight is that I do more than my duty of obedience. He wants me to go beyond and use my faith for the Kingdom of God.

So, what do I have faith for? What do you have faith for? We can use it because God has given us that faith in the first place and He says in Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please God. So we are pleasing Him when we step out in faith.

For example, let’s say a friend hurt me deeply. Let’s say I know that forgiveness is not an option with God, so I forgive that person. That is my duty.  However, with regard to faith, in this example, Jesus says I’m to say about myself, “I am an unprofitable servant. I have only done my duty.” So to be a profitable servant, I must go beyond the unprofitable servant—be more than that.

So in this example, I wouldn’t just forgive, I would move forward in the prophetic. With the faith that I have, I would speak Life statements of God’s destiny over this person. Statements of blessing. Words of encouragement and healing. I would open my mouth and let Holy Spirit flow out prophetic words in accordance with my faith. This would be profitable for this person I’ve forgiven. This would be profitable for the Kingdom of God. This would be faith that pleases God cause He wants me to be a useful servant of His.

So being a profitable servant isn’t about working harder. It isn’t about physical hard work. It is about faith and stepping out in faith and risking in faith. Faith that works in love in profitable, useful and a good blessing for the Kingdom.

So when you or I get in a blue mood and down on ourselves, let’s forgive ourselves. Forgive others. “Forgive” God. But let’s be profitable servants and step out in faith and risk something. Let’s risk a faith statement from Holy Spirit over ourselves. Speak out loud that blessing and affirmation and destiny that bubbles up from the Spirit as we open our mouth and let Him speak the prophetic over us with our own mouth. Or at least speak a Bible promise verse? 

Self-flagellation doesn’t please Jesus, but faith working in love sure does! 

“Atta-girl!”  “Atta-boy!”