Luke 4-7
“And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country, But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elijah sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.” Luke4:24-29
Lord, this is a very hard saying. To think that because of the hardness of the hearts of Thy people and of their king, You chose to provide for Your man Elijah through a widow from a heathen nation. Also, of all the people in Israel that were afflicted with the disease of leprosy, none of them came to Elisha for cleansing, but an idol worshiping king named Naaman came and was cleansed because of his faith in Thee. Lord, why is it that Thy children, myself included, always seem to turn from faith in Thee and trust in their own strength? Why is it that we abuse and neglect the men of God who stand for truth and desire to be used of Thee. How is it that we have moved so far from Thee and Thy loving kindness? It is because we have neglected Thy word for the lust of our own flesh. I myself have neglected to discipline myself to read Thy word on a daily basis. I have made excuse day by day and as a result, my heart is far from You and my desires are fleshly and carnal. Lord, forgive the trespass of Thy servant once more and help me to stand in the day of adversity. My strength is small and my flesh weak. Lord, I desire that my thoughts would be established and according to Your word, I must first commit my works unto Thee. Help me now, today, as I start anew. I, no longer can suffer excuses in my life. Help me to stand firm on the foundation of Thy word.
“Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.” Luke 7:6-10
Lord, once again, a very hard saying. A Roman Centurion, though a part of a heathen system and heathen nation, had become a follower of God. Someone who most likely had been raised to follow a multiplicity of false gods, came unto Thee and loved Thee, and Thy people so dearly that he was willing to give in such a way that he gained the honor and respect of the Jewish elders. The joy that this Centurion had found in God caused him to have so great a faith that it made the very Son of God marvel. But how sad it was when Jesus said of His people that he had not found so great a faith as in this man who may have been at one time a worshiper of false gods. Lord, why do I and why do Thy people have such small faith? Your word says that “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” It is in this that we find the source of such unbelief. Lord, help me to commit anew, today and every day to Thy word. No longer can excuses be made for my negligence to read and meditate therein day and night. Help me to fill my heart with Thy word so that I might not sin against Thee and so that my faith may be as this Centurion’s.
“And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” Luke 7:44-50
Lord, have I loved Thee so little because I have been forgiven of so little? As I read this scripture my heart is smitten within me and tears are falling down my cheeks because my heart is broken for the sin of my life and how unthankful I have been in my life for the salvation of my soul and for the goodness You have shown to me. Dear God, it is utterly amazing the mercy Thou hast shown unto me in that I have not been destroyed! Lord, I am so worthy of Thy judgment and wrath…yet Thy love to me has been sweet, tender and merciful. How can I, who was a slave to sin, continue anymore therein seeing that I have been made free. Revive my heart O’ God and renew a right spirit within me. Give me a heart of flesh and draw me close to Thee. Help me to know Thee and love Thee with my whole heart. Thank you for Thy word and the redemption from sin that Thou hast given me. Help me now to speak of Thy love that sinners would be converted unto Thee.
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