October 1 Finally!

Luke 7:6-10 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. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
 
THE centurion understood unifying authority, didn’t he? The power of his own position depended on two things. First, he needed to obey the authority above. Disobedience would cause his removal. And second, his soldiers needed to obey him. Allowing a disobedient soldier to remain could create a rag-tag malfunctioning group acting on their own desires and pleasures. Such a “dis-unit” could not fulfil its mission. We all know this is true of any effective army, don’t we? Obedience is a key to winning battles and a war. Disobedience dooms an army to destruction.
   The Jews are as a disobedient army. God had formed Israel to be a nation to wage war against sin. But history shows the Jews’ did not unify with their Lord. They rejected the law and the prophets. Then the Authority of Heaven and earth comes to command his army. Jesus preached sermons, taught disciples and healed many. He spoke often of how he ministered in the Father’s authority. He implored his people to believe and live in his teachings: John 5:46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.” Still, too many of his “soldiers” said, “No.” As they refused Jesus’ authority, they were doomed to destruction.
   Sadly, it is the same today. God’s church is to be the army to “Deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13 NIV) to become “more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37b) But sadly, we are not one in unity with our Lord, but too often we prefer to be a rag-tag “dis-unit”. Jesus’ church lives with little faith in the Lord’s commands, his grace, his love, his cross and his resurrection. And it follows, doesn’t it, that a disobedient church is doomed to destruction.
Our only hope is to submit to the Lord’s commands, to be one with Jesus as the centurion was. See how Jesus responded to his submission to Jesus. “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Do you think Jesus thought, “Finally! Someone believes in me. Finally! Someone believes my commands. Finally! Someone is not trying to be God! Finally! There is an obedient servant in the Kingdom of God. Finally! I have a spiritual warrior to be one with me against sin.”
   It is no surprise Jesus healed the centurion’s servant. The centurion humbly submitted to Jesus’ authority. He believed. Salvation came to his household. Evil was defeated. The battle was won. The centurion, his servant and his household were unified with Jesus’ authority that day. Are you?
 
Prayer: Forgive me for my pride to say, “No.” to you, Father. Stir me to live more and more under your authority. In Jesus’ name I pray for this, amen.