September 24, 2019: SOAP #3582:  Ezra 1; Psalm 84-85; Luke 7

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 7:2 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.

Observation:  A servant of great value to the centurion was sick.  He was so sick that the centurion was concerned enough to get personally involved.  The centurion had two very valuable things.  First, he had some valuable knowledge about Jesus.  Jesus was known as a healer!   Second, the centurion had valuable friends who knew Jesus and they could intercede for him.

Application:   I am thankful that I do not need to depend on others to pray for me, but I am so thankful that I have friends who are willing to go to Jesus on my behalf!  They are valuable!

Thinking that God will hear the prayers of someone else before He hears me—thinking that God will answer the prayers of others before He will answer my prayers—that is not good.  It can show that I do not appreciate how much He loves me.  God does not love people who live in the USA more than people who live in Bangladesh, or Pakistan, or India!

Yet God has placed us in the body of Christ to minister to one another.  And He gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit to enable us to minister to one another.  The gifts He has given me are for me to minister to others.  The gifts he has given others are to minister to me.  The gifts make us valuable to one another!  It is God’s way to keep us loving and serving one another.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for the valuable people who have prayed for me.  May I be valuable in praying for others.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!