Text: Luke 7:1-10 – faith of the centurion, who built the synagogue.
Theme: faith results in merciful living
God is faithful. Even when we had failed Him, He remained faithful and kept His covenant with His Son, to redeem us as His Bride. God’s faithfulness resulted in mercy to us. Jesus was faithful to carry out His father’s will, all the way to the cross. Christ’s faithfulness led Him to sacrifice Himself, and resulted in mercy to us.
That mercy was not an idea to be studied, but God’s own bodily presence with us, living a sacrificial, obedient, humble life among us. Mercy is incarnation; mercy is being present – present for your wife, your children, present in your community; mercy is shown before you on this table.
Mercy flows from faith. You have received mercy b/c God was faithful to you. It is shown forth here, where we proclaim Christ’s death at the cross.
As you receive mercy from Christ, be merciful to Christ’s Body, as you discern her gathered around you. 1 Cor 10:17: “Because there is one bread, Jesus, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” And then turn and be merciful as Christ’s Body in a hurting and dying world that needs Him. Proclaim His death until He comes again.
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