ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (AUGUST 27, 2012)

Humble Faith

Luke 7:1-10


"Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.'"
(Luke 7:6B-7)

What do we deserve? The world tells us to push to the front of the line. Fight for the corner office. Rush for first place at the table. After all, we deserve the best of everything. Or do we?

When Luke recorded this passage, he offered a seeming contradiction regarding the worthiness of the centurion. The Jewish leaders told Jesus, "This man deserves to have you do this, because he...has built our synagogue" (Luke 7:4-5). But the centurion said, "I do not deserve to have you come under my roof" (Luke 7:6). Which statement was true?

If good works are the standard, then the man did indeed deserve to have his servant healed. But the centurion knew his good works were nothing in light of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then he combined his humility with great faith. "I do not deserve....But say the word, and my servant will be healed."

Jesus cited the man's humble faith as an example for us all. What do we deserve? Nothing. What do we receive when we put our faith in Jesus Christ? Everything.

INSIGHT
FEEL ENTITLED AND DESERVING OF MORE? JESUS HAS TAKEN THE PUNISHMENT FOR OUR SINS THAT WE ALL ACTUALLY DESERVE. COME TO HIM IN HUMBLE FAITH.

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Isaiah 65-66
Psalm 103
Acts 27

Luke 7:1-10
New International Version (NIV)
The Faith of the Centurion
7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.
He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.


WHEN HEAVEN CAME TO EARTH
with Sally Lloyd-Jones

When something seems too good to be true, it probably is. That's why so often we are disappointed in our heroes. But there is one hero who has never fallen, and never will.