Do I believe in Jesus? How much do I believe in him? To What lengths will my faith take me?
Matthew 8 tells the story of a Roman centurion who not only believed in Jesus but had an excellent grasp of Jesus power and authority and mission.
“5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 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.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.”
I admire this soldiers faith.
When I ask God for something can I just walk away trusting God to answer my prayers in the best possible way? Or do immediately start working on plan B?
How much does that say about what I believe to be true about God? Does he know my situation? Does he care? Can he act? Will he act? Does he love me? Does he have a good plan for me? For us? For all of us humans?
So I go back a few verses and reread and review.
“7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Father God forgive my lack of faith. I want to be more like the centurion. Show me who you are. As I understand who you are let my faith grow. Help my faith grow. Lead me and my family. Even now I’m second guessing my request for building my faith, fearing what tests you will bring to me. Are you a Father who loves me? Show me your love and make my faith in you more like the centurion.
(Originally posted 1/31/17)
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