Luke 7:6-10

Luke 7:6-10 

English Standard Version 

  It's not an easy thing to trust in the authority of God.  We so badly want to hold on, because we think that if we let go, we won't be in control of the outcome.  So we worry... and we worry... and we keep worrying.  It's a way we can control the uncontrollable, because it's always on our minds.  We keep worrying.

  I like the saying that worry is negative prayer -- it's handing something to God and then taking it back, because we can't bear to let go.  But to offer it in prayer is to hand it over and not to be in control of the outcome.  Do we trust God's wisdom in reality, or just in theory?  It's easy for me to tell someone else to trust God -- but when it comes to things that are close to my heart, am I willing to hand that completely over?  It's like the saying that it's a procedure when it happens to someone else, but its surgery when it happens to you -- things are different when it's something you care deeply about.  Do you trust God's wisdom?  Is the one who crafted the stars in the sky and sets the human heart in motion -- is that one trustworthy? Or do you need the outcome to come from your hands?

  It's a hard question for us, and it's hard to stop worrying.  We need to breathe, to ask the Holy Spirit to come in, and breathe out control of those things that we have a hard time letting go of.  Write it down and throw it away.  Do whatever it takes, but trust God.

Luke 7:1–5

Luke 7:1-5

English Standard Version 

  When you're in power, you're used to people simply doing things for you (at least that's how I imagine it.  You have people for things).  A centurion would, I think, be accustomed to his orders being followed.  But he doesn't approach Jesus from a position of authority -- he does so through humility.  Others come on his behalf, clearly indicating that the man has invested in relationships.  He doesn't become kind as a way to get Jesus to do something for him - he's living in a such a way already.  His faith leads him to respect others and to humble himself before Jesus.  

  Faith should change us.  It should cause us to think about what we do and why we do it.  Faith should lead us to treat others with humility, to serve even when we're in positions of power, that others may see the light of Christ shining in us and through us.

Luke 6:46–49

Luke 6:46-49 

English Standard Version 

  Jesus is ending his sermon with a clear statement -- we who believe in his words are charged to go out and put them into practice.  Jesus isn't simply a good teacher coming to warm our hearts, he's coming to move our hands and feet, as well, so that our actions might be changed as well as our words.  It's not just for his benefit -- he's telling us that storms will come, and following his teachings will prepare us to weather the storms.  Basing our identity and sense of self and our relationships on God's unconditional love organizes our life in a way that storms cannot take what we have, because God is stronger than the storm.  If we base our house on a career or sense of self, then what will we have when that career falters or when we fail?

  Christ is always with us, always before us, always loving us.  Follow Christ, obey his teachings, and true life will lead us forwards.

Luke 6:43–45

Luke 6:43-45 

English Standard Version 

  If you drive by an apple orchard and see trees laden with apples, you can make a pretty easy guess at what types of trees there are.  The same is true with an orange grove -- you know the tree based on the fruit heavy on the branches.

  We understand people the same way, too.  When you see people selflessly serving others, you can make a guess at the character of these people.  Our actions reveal our hearts.  

  So when we want to change the way we act, we start with asking God to transform us from the inside out.  The more we understand that we're selflessly and infinitely loved by God, the more we are then moved to selflessly love others.