When God Says …
““And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: for he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.” (Luke 7:2-5 KJV).
We are in a world beholden to prejudice, rank and status. Hence, this story warms the heart and points us to our better selves! The elders of the Jews plead the case of a non-Jew to the Lord Jesus Christ. They're sent by a gentile officer of rank in regard to the case of his slave who he dearly loved. The slave is sick on the brink of dying. The concern they raise transcends racial and social differences as they ask the Lord Jesus for help to heal a gentile. And they also attempted to justify that the Lord should help this officer, for he has good rapport with the Jewish nation. Of course, for the Lord Jesus Christ, these distinctions didn't matter at all. He is full of grace and truth! (John 1:17). But, conscious of religious teaching of self effort they did matter to the Jews then and to some people of our day. This is therefore our wake up call to step away from religion and other worldly ways, and come to grace in Christ Jesus by faith.
This incident is a great reminder that by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, race, rank, and reputation pale in contrast to His desire to save and bless all people - Jews and Gentiles alike, who will come to him believing in Him as Lord. What’s amazing with this story is that this centurion is not a Jew. And, he is an officer for an occupying power. He is a Gentile, a non partaker of the promises of God to His chosen people Israel, whom the Lord Jesus Christ came for, to bring them back to relationship with God. The Lord Jesus came full of grace and truth to restore by grace His chosen people who are lost. But, here we have a man who have no part of God’s plan but see and recognize the Person of grace and came to pursue Him!
This is such a great example for us Gentiles, who now have come and received the Lordship of Christ Jesus, to cement our faith in Him. And, for those who have not yet seek to come and receive Him, it is your call. Come to grace! Believe! We have these reassuring Words of the Lord Jesus to Martha. And, we too must believe! “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”” (John 11:25-26 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment