Worthy or Not?

What picture does your mind conjure up when I say humility? A soft spoken person? Washing feet ceremony? An elderly deacon in your church? A soldier just home from war?

I came across a picture of humility that I had never seemed to notice before. And a picture of a contrast between the religious (and puffed up) elite and a strong man with a conscience that saw the need for Christ.

Luke 7:1-10

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 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. 

The Jewish leaders never got it. Their pride was in the way. Their perspective was not to see Christ as much, but to see themselves and their leaders as much. Look at the contrast of the centurion's friends perspective. 

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." And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

And Jesus rewarded this humility.  May our lives be mirrors of this. 

James 4:6 reminds us, "...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

My prayer for you and me is that our lives would be marked by this kind of humility. Whether it is the simple act of seeking your child's forgiveness for an unkind word or impatient gesture, or looking to a friend's needs greater than your own. Strive for this today, friend.