Key Thought

I've lived in the country. I've lived in the city. I've lived in the suburbs. Each has its own rhythm. Each has its own advantages. Each has its own drawbacks. Jesus chose the cities. Yes, a good bit of his ministry occurred on the mountainsides or along the lake, but he felt a call to the city. That's where the most people lived. That's where the need was greatest. So after his time of ministry in teaching, he goes back to the city to share himself with those who needed God's good news of hope and salvation. As Luke tells us Jesus' story, first through his earthly ministry in the Gospel of Luke and then through his heavenly ministry through the Spirit in the early church (see the book of Acts), he reminds us of Jesus' love for the cities and his desire to save the masses. So no matter where we find ourselves living, I can't help but believe that the Master will place the lost of the cities on our hearts and call those of us in cities to share hope, joy, and salvation with those who do not yet know it and call the rest of us to fully support efforts to reach city-dwellers.

Today's Prayer

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O LORD, God of the nations and lover of the people who inhabit the great cities of the world, please move me to be more selfless as I look at where I invest my time and my energies. Open my heart to the needs of those in the great cities and teach me how to reach more effectively the lost of the cities with your message of grace, hope, and salvation. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Jesus finished saying all these things to the people. Then Jesus went into Capernaum. In Capernaum there was an army officer. The officer had a servant that was very sick; he was near death. The officer loved the servant very much. When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some older Jewish leaders to him. The officer wanted the men to ask Jesus to come and save the life of his servant. The men went to Jesus. They begged Jesus {to help the officer}. They said, "This officer is worthy to have your help. He loves our people and he built the synagogue for us." So Jesus went with the men. Jesus was coming near the officer's house when the officer sent friends to say, "Lord, you don't need to do anything special for me. I am not good enough for you to come into my house. That is why I did not come to you myself. You only need to give the order and my servant boy will be healed. {I understand your authority.} I am a man under the authority (power) of other men. And I have soldiers under my authority. I tell one soldier, 'Go,' and he goes. And I tell another soldier, 'Come,' and he comes. And I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and my servant obeys me." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Jesus turned to the people that were following him. Jesus said, "I tell you, this is the most faith I have seen anywhere, even in Israel. " The group that was sent to Jesus went back to the house. There they found that the servant was healed.

— Luke 7:1-10 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.