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Meditation

Reader,

I'll let you into my research process for BCC. When looking for passages to feature, I'll start off creating a list from memory and then ask friends and subscribers to identify passages that fit our theme.

Then I do a lot of online research creating a shortlist of 40 or so passages that I then revise to create a final program from a variety of sources, reflecting a multitude of styles.

The Old Testament books are a rich resource for lengthy and moving prayers. The New Testament books less so.

Researching the New Testament I found a series of passages that aren't presented as prayers. They seem like dialogue or come in the form of parables, but on reflection, they do appear to be prayer, of sorts.

This famous 'encounter' between Jesus and the centurion is one of them. As you copy it out, you'll be asking yourself, "Is this a prayer?" I'll explain why I included it in the "Encouragement" section below.

Today's text is Luke 7:1-9

The Faith of the Centurion

7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 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.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. ⁷ That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

⁸ For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

⁹ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”

Encouragement

I called this an "encounter," but in fact, the centurion and Jesus never meet each other in person. They communicate through intermediaries—first the Jewish elders and then through friends of the centurion.

They carry the centurion's messages and requests on his behalf. And they plead earnestly and passionately with Jesus to answer his prayer.

Jesus doesn't answer them directly, but he does act. He sets out to the man's home. When He hears of the centurion's faith, the servant is healed.

I don't want to stretch the definition of "prayer" too far, so I'm approaching this with caution.

The lesson I take from this is that faithful communication with Jesus is the definition of prayer and also to remember the value of praying earnestly on behalf of others for what they faithfully desire. Today's passage is a picture of both.

Andy

God's word in your hand

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