MONDAY, JULY 10

Gaps

Luke 7:1-10

God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself (Colossians 1:19-20).

A battle rages where I live—a rivalry between two universities. The rivalry manifests itself primarily in athletic competition. My alma mater proudly displays the letter “S” as its logo. The S stands for State, as in Michigan State University. The other school brandishes a distinctive “M,” which represents the University of Michigan.

Recently my new business cards showed up. As I looked at one, the M logo stared rudely up at me, screened in behind my name. I’d been pranked!

But I had a different feeling about that M when my wife and I went to the University of Michigan Cancer Center. We’d just learned of her melanoma. Everywhere we looked, the block-letter M was abundantly evident, but we didn’t care. A gap had been bridged.

Jesus once encountered a man who had bridged a huge gap. As a military officer, this man was a part of the Roman force—hated for occupying Israel. His slave was dying, so “he sent some respected Jewish elders” to ask for Jesus’ help (Luke 7:2-3). And they did! His character bridged a gap—they knew he loved the Jewish people (vv.4-5) and even told Jesus, “If anyone deserves your help, he does.”

Jesus left with them. But then this powerful man subordinated himself to Jesus, a Jewish rabbi. Recognizing His authority, he said, “I am not even worthy to come and meet you” (v.7). In amazement, Jesus said of him, “I haven’t seen faith like this in all of Israel” (v.9).

That statement bridged a gap too.

Jesus’ life built bridges, but it was His death that spanned the biggest gap of all—the one between His Father and us, between death and life.

Human beings divide over all sorts of reasons, silly and serious. It’s because of Jesus that we can come together. —Tim Gustafson

Read Luke 7:36-50 to see how Jesus bridged two significant gaps.

What gaps can you bridge today? What does it mean for you to know that Jesus has bridged the gap between you and God?

‘I Am Yours’ – Acoustic Performance From Lauren Daigle from lauren-daigle on GodTube.