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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Thursday, 29 February 2024:
Luke 7:2-10 — Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore, I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”
The centurion in today’s readings offers a great example of how to integrate faith with profession and how faithful Christian professionals can have a powerful impact on their coworkers and their community to God’s glory:
- Luke 7:2, 3 – Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant.
Christian professionals stand out for their compassion for others, serve in an intercessory position to the Lord on their employees’ behalf, and take personal action to care for them. The centurion, a powerful person, went out of his way to take care of a servant because the servant was “highly valued by him.” How do you show others how valuable they are to you, and how to minister to their real needs to God’s glory?
Luke 7:4, 5 — He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.
The centurion worked diligently in his profession and in service to the church, and his commitment to both were well known and respected by all. The centurion didn’t compartmentalize his faith. For a Christian, there is no secular job. All work is done with God and for God –
- Colossians 3:17, 22-24 — And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him…. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
- Daniel 6:3 — Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
- Titus 2:7, 8 — Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
- Proverbs 22:29 — Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
- Ephesians 6:7-8 — Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
Luke 7:7, 8 – But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, “Go,” and he goes; and to another, “Come,” and he comes; and to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.
The centurion, a person of great authority and power in service to a secular nation, recognized, honored, and trusted Jesus’ superior authority, publicly humbling himself before Jesus. The centurion understood that Jesus’ authority was not dependent on any earthly position or recognition but rather rested on the Supreme authority vested in Him by the Father. When Jesus gave us the Great Commission, He reminded us that we are called to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples under His authority and through His power. Do you use your liberty and freedom to share the Gospel when others say you shouldn’t?
- Acts 4:18-21 — So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.
- John 19:10, 11 — So Pilate said to him… “Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.”
- Luke 7:9 – “When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.’”
- Romans 1:16 — For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
- Luke 9:26 — For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
- 2 Timothy 1:8-14 — Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
Few would have thought that a Roman, gentile soldier would receive such a commendation from Jesus, ahead of the Jewish religious leaders. Because the centurion was willing to live out his faith publicly, he demonstrated that the unifying power of the Gospel transcends all social divides. Notice that even though the centurion worked as a commander for the Roman army, Jesus didn’t ask him to leave his profession. The centurion was a powerful witness right where he was and was used in a powerful way by God. What would happen in our nation if more Christians lived their faith publicly in their professions and demonstrated the power of the Gospel to transform and to overcome all that divides people?
- Daniel 2:47-49 — The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.
Luke 7:13 – And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
Jesus has compassion and desires to bring comfort to those who are suffering. Jesus, who loves you unconditionally, loves you compassionately, understands what you are going through and is there to comfort you. The shortest verse in the New Testament is found in John 11:35 as Jesus observed Mary’s sorrow over the death of her brother Lazarus — “Jesus wept.” And “the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’” Life in this broken world is often painful, but you are not alone – God is with you and will never leave you or forsake you. The Bible says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).” For those who love God, even the worst of live will be brought to good through Jesus.
Luke 7:20 – And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’”
Jesus said that there was “no one greater than John,” yet in prison, John doubted. Take heart in the fact that God understands the limits of your faith and does not abandon you in your doubts. When you face doubt, go to the Lord and ask Him to strengthen your faith. Trust Him to reveal Himself more fully in your life over time. He will never leave you or forsake you, and nothing can separate you from the love of Christ.
Luke 7:22-24 – And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?” Our faith is validated by actions, not arguments, and we witness to what we have seen and experienced personally from God, not just what we have read about Him. In a court of law, witnesses testify to their first-hand experience; anything else is hearsay. Your testimony is more than doctrine; it is your story of your genuine encounter and relationship with Christ. As you step out in what little faith you have, you experience the power of God in your life more fully, your faith grows, and you have the confidence to step out even further. The more you truly experience Jesus, the more excited you are to tell others. Sharing your personal testimony is no longer awkward.
Luke 7:24-28 – Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.”
John the Baptist was no people pleaser, and it cost him his life. John was no politician or careerist who proclaimed only what was most popular; he did not conform to popular opinion or statistical morality (what the majority said was right). He did not make a living off of telling people what they wanted to hear. John spoke the truth to please God, regardless the opinion of others or the personal cost. He rejected the trappings of the world. His lifestyle revealed the truth of the man and earned Jesus’ highest praise – “I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John.” Jesus gave John the Baptist His greatest endorsement because John refused to comprise at any cost. Jesus also condemned the rich, prosperous leaders of society who compromised themselves to get there.
- Matthew 16:26 — For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Luke 7:29 – When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John….
John prepared people to receive God’s Word, Jesus.
Luke 7:30 — …but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves.
Jesus was obedient to God in all things, even when it seemed to defy all reason, such as when He, the Son of God, submitted to the Baptism of John. Of Jesus, the Bible says, “Though he was in the form of God, [He] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8) The Bible says that we are to “have this mind among [ourselves], which is [ours] in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5) With the mind of Christ, we are to “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)
Let that sink in today – nothing out of selfishness or pride, counting ourselves as least among others in complete humility! This is something the Pharisees would not do – in their pride and selfishness, they “rejected the purpose of God for themselves.” Our problem is not that the Bible isn’t clear about what God wants us to do; our problem is that we don’t want to do it. So, we muddy the waters in an attempt to justify our disobedience. God’s plan for us does not fit our plan for ourselves, so we look for a second opinion, someone who can find a creative way of making God’s word say something it doesn’t – “Did God really say…?” (See Genesis 3)
Jesus was obedient to the point of death. Philippians 2:3 tells us that God’s plan for us is for us to die of self, emptying ourselves to be filled by the Holy Spirit, living not by selfish ambition but rather by the Holy Spirit, walking joyfully in obedience and love regardless the personal cost. Will you do that, or will you play the role of a follower of Christ? Jesus called the Pharisees “hypocrites” which meant “stage actors.” They acted religious but in truth “rejected the purpose of God for themselves.”
Luke 7:33-35 – For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, “He has a demon.” The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, “Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.
Sinners have countless justifications for refusing to accept Christ. People also find all sorts of reason to criticize those who proclaim truth, and they use personal attacks to distract from the message of the messenger, but the truth will vindicate the messenger in time. People who cannot stand to hear the truth have no argument against the truth, so they can only attack the messenger.
“The world is full of ‘experts.’ There are people everywhere who want to convince you of the wisdom of their opinion. Yet God says that it is not the one who declares his viewpoint the most loudly or vociferously who is the wisest, but the one who is vindicated over time.
Wisdom is not proven by argument or debate. Wisdom is proven over time. Some people Adamantly proclaim that their opinion is best. Regardless of how convincingly these people defend their viewpoint, time is the best judge of their wisdom. The result of a practice proves its validity, not how loudly it is promoted.
When you seek to obey what God has told you, you will sometimes meet resistance and criticism from others who disagree with the wisdom of your actions. Your immediate response may be the urge to vindicate yourself. However, if you wait patiently, time will reveal the wisdom of your actions far better than you could through argument.
Through the ages, the wisdom found in God’s Word has been tested and proven true. It is critical that you measure everything you hear against the Scriptures. Trends in psychology and philosophy come and go, but God’s Word is timeless. Whenever you share an opinion in counseling someone else, make sure that it comes from the Scripture and not merely from your best thinking. As long as you base your life choices on the Word of God, time will be your defender and will validate the wisdom of your choices. If, over time, you clearly see you are wrong, ask God’s forgiveness and seek a fresh word from God through the Scripture. Then obey that word and watch to see God confirm His wisdom in your life.” (Henry T. Blackaby)
Luke 7:36-38 – And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
This woman completely and publicly humbled herself at the feet of Jesus, anointing Him with very expensive ointment – a truly shocking display. When you are in love with the person of Christ and in His presence, nothing else matters.
Luke 7:47 – But he who is forgiven little, loves little.
Love of Christ comes from truly knowing Him and appreciating His sacrificial love for you. The more you appreciate the forgiveness you have received, the more you will love God and others. If you have trouble loving someone, you have yet to fully grasp the love you have received through Jesus.
Luke 7:48-50 – And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Jesus provides forgiveness, salvation, and peace you can never receive from society. He gives a peace like no other. He gives freedom like no other. The world cannot take away from you what God has given you. If you have been freed from judgment through Jesus, you are truly free, regardless of what others might say.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 29 February 2024: Rejoice and have confidence in the forgiveness you have received in Jesus, and love others the way God has loved you. (Luke 7:47-50) Have the faith to serve as an ambassador for Christ where you work. Standout as excellent at what you do while demonstrating the excellencies of whom you ultimately serve, Jesus Christ. Glorify God where He has placed you, and have the confidence to speak truth into every situation you encounter, using all circumstances to proclaim the Gospel.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 