Luke 7:1-10 - The Centurion's Faith

And here's what was happening with these leaders. They don't know Christ, they don't know his heart, so they're going to try and win his favor by this, "Centurion does lots of good things for us. He's a great guy, he takes care of us, he helped build the synagogue. You should do something for him." Jesus, as we move on, we see Jesus went with them.

Verse six, 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." Notice, the religious leader's approach was, "He's a great guy, shows up every week, pays for a lot of stuff." The centurion says, "I'm a Gentile. For you to enter my house is a defilement to you. For me to be in your presence is a defilement to you. I am unworthy for you to be here." So, I'm sending someone else.

See, when we really look at what happens with the people in our lives, when they say, "Hey, I think you're kind of religious, would you pray for me? My marriage is falling apart. Grandma's sick. My dog is unhealthy." Whatever the story is, what they're really saying is, "I don't think I'm worthy enough to approach the throne of God. Would you do it for me?" The truth is, none of us are worthy enough. Only Jesus is worthy. When he died on the cross, when he shed his blood for you and I, it's not because we deserved it, it's not because we earned it, it was done out of love, and it's only because of that that we are worthy to approach the throne of God. It is only because of that that we are declared righteous. What a beautiful thing that is.

He sent his friends, "Don't trouble yourself. I'm not worthy to even have you under my roof." The centurion, he's an amazing example of what humility looks like. "I don't deserve to be in your presence. I don't deserve for you to be in my house. But you're my only hope, and I'm asking if you will do this because I understand you have the authority to do this."

See, the reality, that's really the heart we should have when we approach the throne day by day. "God, I really don't deserve to be here. I didn't earn it. The only reason I'm righteous is because you've declared me righteous. But I know you have the authority, and you have the ability to do what I can't do for myself. Would you please do this thing?"

It's interesting. Thursday morning, a message went out in the men's group chat. If we would gather and just fast and pray for 24 hours for a person. What we were praying for is, they don't have many days left, and we were praying for their salvation. What a joy it was when I got a message yesterday morning that not only did the conversation take place, but that life was given to Jesus.

Are we pleading for the people around us who are dying, not just a physical death, but a spiritual death? Statistics tell us in Wichita, less than 10% of the population will be in a church today. And it's not because it's summer. Now, we'll go to the coffee shop, and we'll complain and gripe about our society and about our city, and will complain and gripe about what government is doing, but nothing changes till hearts change.