“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: We have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke 17:10).

The concept of duty is not highly regarded today, but it should still occupy an honored place in the Christian’s vocabulary. Consider the following duties of the Christian: Evangelism and missions. “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel. . .” (Romans 1:14,15). “Debtor” is same as “duty.” Spirit-filled living. “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh” (Romans 8:12). Teaching the Word. “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God” (Hebrews 5:12). Christ-like behavior. “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked” (I John 2:6). The Greek for “ought” is also the same as “duty.” Christ-like love. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (I John 4:11). Thankfulness. “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord” (II Thessalonians 2:13). “Bound” is same as “duty.” Sacrificial living. “. . . because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay [literally ‘be laying’] down our lives for the brethren” (I John 3:16).

Even when we do these things, we have no reason to become self-satisfied. They are merely our duties, as bond slaves, in an eternal debt of gratitude to our loving Lord! HMM