Read Luke 7:1-10

Did you ever suffer from lack of self-esteem?

Join the crowd; almost all of us have, including this unnamed Roman army officer. He was desperate to get help for his valued servant, but so sure Jesus would not help a hated Roman that he asked his Jewish friends for help. When Jesus responded, the man got cold feet.

Addressing Jesus as “Lord,” and not supposing himself worthy, he says, “Please, just heal him from a distance.” Then he tries to explain himself to Jesus: “I’m an unworthy wretch. But I do have sense enough to hold a good job! Don’t bother with me! But I do have a lot of power. Yet I’m so far below you I can’t ask you to come under my roof” (vv. 6-8). We get seasick listening to him.

A humble Roman centurion. Is that an oxymoron or what? This army officer didn’t know much about Jesus. Yet in humble trust, he believed Jesus could heal with just a word. That’s a remarkable concept. Jesus called it the greatest faith He had seen. You wonder where the man got the idea.

What’s the “take away” for us? That Jesus honors sincere, humble faith wherever He finds it? That you don’t have to be a member of some inside group for Jesus to help you?

That Jesus’ work in our lives is always a “God-thing,” not dependent upon our worthiness or our vaunted “self-esteem”?

Read Luke 6:39-49

Creative writing teachers always tell aspiring writers, “Don’t tell us; show us.” That’s what Luke does here.

Luke does not give us his opinion on Jesus’ wisdom or tell us what He looked like or whether people liked Him. Skilled writer that he was, Luke recounts one parable right after another. He shows you what Jesus taught.

The blind leading the blind, the speck of sawdust in somebody else’s eye and a plank in mine. Aren’t these images all of us can identify with? We know exactly what Jesus is saying—learn before you try to teach, don’t be hypocritical (vv. 41-42).

He changes the image in vv. 43-45, but again it is something that all of us know, whether we lived in Jesus’ day or 2000 years later. Bad trees bear bad fruit; grapes don’t grow on briars. What’s inside will come out. It’s another way of saying sooner or later you will reveal who you really are.

In vv. 46-49 Jesus shifts the picture again. But we still know exactly what He is talking about. Don’t call Me “Lord” and then disobey Me, He says. But if you obey, you are like the person who constructs a strong, sturdy house. You will not be overwhelmed when the rushing floodwaters of life roar over you. He does not say that His people will have no trouble. Only that their lives will not come to pieces under the deluge.

Read Luke 6:27-38

“Do to others as you would have them do to you” (v. 31).

Where have we heard that before? The Golden Rule is a precept most of us were taught in childhood. Our elders may have added their own trimming: “Be nice to others and they’ll be nice to you.”

But is that how the world works? How can I be pleasant and generous to those who see generosity as a mark of weakness and strive to take unfair advantage?

Notice two things Jesus did not say here: that life is easy, and that you could exercise the Golden Rule in your own strength. We are to be merciful “just as your Father is merciful (v. 36).” You can’t do that unaided.

Notice to whom Jesus speaks: those who hear (v. 27). In our own strength we cannot deal generously, or even in fairness, with the ungracious, dishonest wretches who seem to infest our path. But to the person who hears—really hears—Jesus’ call to service done in His name, then the power to love enemies comes not from our own power, but from Jesus’ power springing in our hearts.

Selfless living is not born of any natural love for mankind that we have, but from Jesus’ love. As Jesus pointed out, loving others is the distinguishing characteristic of His followers (John 13:35). It set the Christians apart from those around them like nothing else.

It still does.

Read Luke 6:17-26

Jesus stood “on a level place” to teach (v. 17).

Why did Luke note that? Jesus seems to have descended the mountain to a level place from which to teach and be seen and heard easily.

Do I live my life on a level place? Do I take a position for what I believe that is clear and plain so that those around me cannot misunderstand what I stand for?

Jesus blesses those who are poor, sad, excluded. He pronounces woe to the rich, laughing in comfort. Is Jesus against riches or laughter? Are they wrong? Nowhere is it so recorded. Nor does Jesus condemn them here. What is He teaching?

Keep your priorities straight. Service to Jesus is first. If it means you make little money in a job pleasing to the Lord when you could have been rich in a job out of His will, rejoice, for your reward is in heaven. Have you been blessed with riches? Splendid. Use the money to further God’s work.

Human circumstances change. Put God first in your life and trust Him for the rest. Knowing you are in the center of God’s will brings a life of joy, a peace of mind and heart that no amount of money can buy.