01-23-12 "Humility; God's Pathway to Honor" Luke 7:1-10

The passage I read was Luke 7:1-10

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+7%3A1-10&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

⁶ So Jesus went with them.

   He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. ⁷ That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

As I reflect:

Though I believe that there are several lessons to be studied from this passage (Faith, authority, law vs custom, obedience, etc.) today I will look at the lesson of humility given in the centurion’s actions and words.   We have so many wonderful examples of humility in the word.  This is yet another of those examples.  A centurion of Rome during this time in history was given full authority over their slaves and expected to kill without charge of murder any slave they chose, especially if that slave fell ill or incapable in some way of fulfilling their daily duties.   This man ignored that right by man’s law and instead became not only humble before God’s law not to murder, but also humble before God in that he would not even want the Lord to enter his house from fear of how unworthy he and his home were.  What humility?! 

We today have expectations and tell God to fit in a box because we tend to at some point come to expect God to bend to our will and that is simply not how this relationship works.  Now at the time of this story, the doorway that Jesus swung open to allow us to enter freely into the presence of the Father in the Holy of Holies was still very much sealed and no one but the Son and whom the Father chose could enter such a place.  However today, we all have been given that privilege to freely come before God.  I think we far too often think that this is a ticket we deserve though instead of recognizing how wonderful such a gift is.  I mean none of us, not one, is worthy to come before God and speak to our Creator and yet He chooses to extend this privilege out of love for us.  We ought to more often remember as the centurion did that we have no right, no deserving action that we have committed has lead us to a place where we merit the right to come before God.  It is only because of His grace and love that the veil was torn and when we enter His presence we ought to do so with humility recognizing fully that we are an unrighteous being coming before that which all righteousness stems from.  We are to be lowly and humble as we bow at His feet.  The centurion here gives us that feeling again.

For those who have thought of themselves as worthy to have Christ come to them and improve upon them or their lives, look at the centurion and consider yourself as unworthy of God’s presence.  Now reproach the throne with a thankful and humble heart, for you are in the presence of the highest Authority in existence.  Have a fearful reverence for Our King of Kings and Lord Most High. 

My response to the Lord:

Lord, today I reflected on the approach one should have before your throne and yet I myself am guilty of far to often approaching your throne in a manner other than humble.  Sometimes I am excited as I come before you and I seem to run past everyone in celebration, and I think that you are probably ok with that.  But at other times that I approach incorrectly, I am sometimes just being lazy or expectant of you to listen despite my selfishness in not taking the time to approach you reverently.  Forgive me my King.  I don’t want to stand accused of taking you for granted.  You are my everything and I value you with all that I am.  May I remember more often that though I am given this privilege to come before you freely, it is still none the less a privilege from the Most High.