THE SEND: Luke & ActsSample

Luke 7 is full of Jesus performing miracles and changing lives. He heals a servant without being in the same room. He raises a man back from the dead. He shows how the prophecies of the Old Testament are being fulfilled. And he forgives the sins of a woman no one thought was worthy.

Jesus’ authority and greatness are emphasized again and again. We see him healing the sick (Luke 7:1-10), raising the dead (Luke 7:12-15), telling of the things he has done (Luke 7:22), and being anointed with expensive perfume (Luke 7:38). And in the midst of this authority and greatness, Jesus is encouraging the people around him to have a great faith for what God is wanting to do around them. He highlights the faith of the centurion (Luke 7:9), he stirs faith as he raises a man from the dead (Luke 7:15-16), he calls John to have faith in him (Luke 7:22), and he uses the faith of the woman with the perfume to challenge the faith of those he’s with (Luke 7:44-50).

The stories of the Bible tell us that our God is a great God (if you were raised in Church, or went to Sunday school, you might know a song to go with that). This chapter challenges us to have great faith in the great things that Jesus still wants to do.

Now, I don’t know what situations you are facing right now. Maybe a breakthrough feels as impossible as someone coming back to life. Maybe you have a friend or family member, and you want them to know Jesus. Maybe it’s the fact that your school doesn’t have a place for Christians to gather, or maybe your workplace lacks hope, or maybe you’re witnessing people in your community suffering.

Whatever situation you are facing, I want to encourage you to respond to the challenge of this chapter today. Will you have faith for what God wants to do in those places, people, and circumstances?

The Bible is full of incredible stories of a great God. And that same great God is still doing great things today. The same Jesus who worked miraculously in the lives of ordinary people—like a Roman soldier or a weeping woman—is still working in the lives of ordinary people today.

Whether it be in praying for someone, starting a conversation, or asking God to move in an impossible situation, where is God calling you to have faith for the great things that he wants to do?