Commendable Faith

Chuckle: "A medical school gave each graduate a batch of ten-year-old copies of Time magazine -- so patients wouldn't think they were new in the business."

Quote: "Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservations.” --Elton Trueblood

"I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my slave will be healed" (Luke 7:7 NLT).

You will recall the story of the Roman Army officer (centurion) who had sent some of his respected Jewish friends to ask Jesus to come to his house and heal his valued servant. But before Jesus arrived at his house, the officer sent some other friends to say to Jesus, "Lord, don't trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor" (vs. 6). Then he continued with the words of our main passage. What a beautiful story of incredible faith. His faith was so strong that he knew all Jesus had to do was speak the words and his servant would be healed.

"When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd, he said, 'I tell you, I haven't seen faith like this in all the land of Israel!'" And when the officer's friends returned to his house, they found the servant completely healed (vv. 9-10). He was right. At the moment when he expressed his faith his servant was healed.

How does my faith and yours measure up when compared to the faith of the centurion? As we hear God speak to us from His Word or in our prayers, do we really believe that He will keep His word? Do you ever catch yourself praying for something while not really believing that God will grant your request?

The officer's faith was particularly amazing because he was not a Jew, but a gentile. Jesus taught him and His Jewish audience that faith is not limited to a special privileged group, but can be found in people of all races and backgrounds. Is your faith worthy of having Jesus commend you for it as He did the centurion?

George Muller, a great man of faith, once said, “God delights to increase the faith of His children. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take them from God’s hand as a means. I say – and say it deliberately – trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith.”

Love, Jerry & Dotse