SCRIPTURE: Luke 7:1-10

OBSERVATION:
Here we see how often it is non-Jews or non-Christians who put Jews and Christians to shame. Do we think that only Christians are good people? This Roman soldier was kind to the Jews, kind to his slaves and respectful of the Jewish messiah. He understood better than the Jews how the messiah’s authority worked. Jesus calls this man’s response to Him, “faith”. However this faith developed, it should remind us again that God’s grace extends beyond our own little circles. As the Spirit guided the wise men to Jesus through astrology, so the Spirit works in and among those who do not know God, helping them see, understand and even believe in part, enough to receive a blessing from Him. Of course their faith is incomplete, but it is still genuine, and God fills in the gaps. We should stop approaching people as outsiders, and start seeing them as wayward brothers and sisters who like us are in need of God’s mercy, and who are experiencing and responding to God in limited yet genuine ways.

APPLICATION:
Who are the “good” non-Christians that I know? Though being good does not save them, it may indicate the fruit of the Spirit, the work of God in them that is the beginning of faith (and maybe even greater faith than God finds in the church). Still they need someone to help them grow in their fledgling faith… but it is real nevertheless. And maybe one day Jesus will look at us (at me) and compare me to people like this Roman soldier and say, “I haven’t seen faith like this in all the church!”.

PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for Your patience with me. Help me to be patient with others, like You are. And help me to see others as my brothers and sisters (and not opponents or enemies), equally in need of Your grace and mercy. Amen.