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.

Unmatched Kindness

I find myself so prone to judging others. As I am reading through, Brokenness, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, I am realizing the reason for this attitude.

Pride. Plain and simple. It is a nasty snare that can so subtly creep up and entangle my heart.

Along side this book I am studying the book of Romans and wouldn't you just know it? They go hand in hand. As I read through Romans chapter 1 yesterday, much of it was a reminder of things I've already heard. Man has no excuse to reject God; for God has written His law on each man's heart as well as creation shouting out His majesty. Then I came to verse 28.

"And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper."

I thought, "In order to NOT acknowledge God, they had to acknowledge Him at one time. I certainly am not in that category. I have not been given over to my sin. I have not murdered."

You can fill in the blank. I have not........

I come to chapter 2 and BAM!!! I realize the pride. Without Christ I am capable of everything Paul lists in chapter 1. I pass judgment on those doing these "wicked" things. Have I been angry? I've murdered. Have I been impatient? I've hated. I've thought I'm better than others. How wicked!

Then Paul asks the reader, "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"

It was God's kindness, compassion, and patience that drew me and yet, so often, I demand judgment on others.

Forgiveness is what is needed. For me.