LOVING PEOPLE
Matthew 8:5-7
"Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, pleading with Him, saying, 'Lord, my servant is at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented. And Jesus said to him, 'I will come and heal Him.' "
Today's Scripture passage is reinforcement of yesterday's reading. Jesus had an open heart to all people, unlike the Jews who considered themselves God's chosen people and everyone else on a lower rung of the ladder. They were very parochial and looked down on outsiders. This Roman centurion was outside the pale of Judaism, but Jesus saw him and his servant as people in need, regardless of whether they were a part of the "in" group. Jesus saw more faith in this Roman than in all of the rest of Israel (verse 10). Jesus broke down the wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles in order to reconcile them all to God (Ephesians 2:14-16). We are all of one flesh needing the healing saving touch of Jesus. We are all sinners who need a Savior. To those who come to Jesus, confessing their need, Jesus says, "I will come and heal you." I need to be careful that I do not become parochial and think I am an in an exclusive group – my denomination, my nationality, my race, my social status – shutting others outside. Lord Jesus, give me your heart for people of all stripes.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Jesus did not just come to save just one group of people, but everyone who would come to Him.
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Have a loving day. Love you.
Matthew 8:5-7
"Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, pleading with Him, saying, 'Lord, my servant is at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented. And Jesus said to him, 'I will come and heal Him.' "
Today's Scripture passage is reinforcement of yesterday's reading. Jesus had an open heart to all people, unlike the Jews who considered themselves God's chosen people and everyone else on a lower rung of the ladder. They were very parochial and looked down on outsiders. This Roman centurion was outside the pale of Judaism, but Jesus saw him and his servant as people in need, regardless of whether they were a part of the "in" group. Jesus saw more faith in this Roman than in all of the rest of Israel (verse 10). Jesus broke down the wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles in order to reconcile them all to God (Ephesians 2:14-16). We are all of one flesh needing the healing saving touch of Jesus. We are all sinners who need a Savior. To those who come to Jesus, confessing their need, Jesus says, "I will come and heal you." I need to be careful that I do not become parochial and think I am an in an exclusive group – my denomination, my nationality, my race, my social status – shutting others outside. Lord Jesus, give me your heart for people of all stripes.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Jesus did not just come to save just one group of people, but everyone who would come to Him.
[end]
Have a loving day. Love you.
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