Monday, May 27, 2013

Simply Amazing

What do you suppose you could do that would cause Jesus to be amazed?
Is it the clothes you put on?
No!
How about your skill on the keyboards?
Nope!
I know, is it your great business acumen?
Nada!
What is it then?
Take a look at this passage and see if you can find it –
“When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.
 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
 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.
 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.”
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.”
Matthew 8:5-10
 
If you answered: “great faith!” give yourself a pat on the back…
but don’t expect any points on the board!
To earn those points you have to tell me how that faith was evident.
The Centurion realized and expressed to Jesus his understanding that Jesus had the power to heal without touching his servant, without going to him, without being anywhere near him.
He believed Jesus was Lord and not restricted by space or time.
Everyone else came, or brought others, to Jesus that He might lay His hands on them and pray for them.
The Centurions faith was expressed in seeing Jesus as others had not.
He believed Jesus needed only to speak the word and it would be so.
This understanding amazed Jesus.
Some versions translate it as ‘astonished’!
Can you imagine causing Jesus to marvel or be astonished and amazed at your view of Him?
Ask God to open your eyes this week to see Jesus in ways you’ve not seen Him before!

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