(For word document click title above) From this scripture Luke 7 Healing of the Centurion’s Servant we can learn valuable lessons. Gill Khoury - 22 January 2017

Luke 7. Healing of the Centurion’s Servant

We all experience everyday trials and tribulations. Most of the time we try to get over them without really seeing the learning potential that they offer. Its like we fast-forward or skip over that bit of our lives. But in the everyday occurrences there are major opportunities for maturity and growth. If we don’t realise this we can miss opportunities to grow and learn.

The next story illustrates this point. It’s one of those stories with lots of  lessons but most of the time we only think there is one. Story is the healing of the Centurions servant .

Luke 7:1-9 New International Version (NIV)

The Faith of the Centurion

7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 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. 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.

Lesson 1

People of very different backgrounds and social environment can have deeply loving relationships.

Do we get this or are we scared, afraid and judgmental over people who are different?

Lesson 2

Sometimes people outside of a religious framework understand grace better than those inside.

Centurion approached Jesus humbly. Didn’t act as though Jesus owed him.

We need to understand that God doesn’t owe us.

Lesson 3

Faith is about acknowledging God’s sovereignty in every area.

The Centurion understood God’s sovereignty.

Jesus is blown away by the Centurion’s faith

God didn’t just work in bible times. He is till working now in every day circumstances.

When the dust has settled take a chance to look back and learn the lessons that God offers.