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After Jesus gave what we call the Sermon on the Mount, he went back to Capernaum. One day, a Roman Centurion approached him with a request, "Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain." (Matthew 8:6) It must have taken a great deal of humility and faith for the Centurion to even approach Jesus. First of all he was a Roman. He was also a professional officer in the Roman army. We know he was a man of some authority, "I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, 'Go,' and they go, or 'Come,' and they come. And if I say to my slaves, 'Do this,' they do it." (Vs. 9) Now he is coming to Jesus to ask him to heal his servant. I also notice that the Centurion didn't ask Jesus to heal his servant so he could serve him. He said it was because the servant "lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain." It implies that the Centurion cares about his servant. This seems to be another sign of humility. In response to the Centurion's request, Jesus offers to go to his home and heal the servant. The Centurion's response shows the depth of his faith. "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed." (Vs. 8 ) I wonder if Jesus would find that kind of faith in me. I wonder if he would find it in any of those who call him Lord. I'm not trying to pass judgment or create guilt, I'm just wondering. Jesus said, about the Centurion, "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel!" (Vs.10) Would he find followers, today, that he could say the same thing about? I find myself praying, "Lord, take my life and make it what you want it to be." Then I go about doing my own thing, trying to make ends meet and trying to make life worthwhile. What kind of faith is that? How does that show trust in my Lord? How does that even show that he is Lord? How do I get to the point of being able to say "Lord, just say the word and it will be so?" How do I get to the point of trusting Jesus when he says "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." (Matthew 6:31-33) I find myself crying out the words of Paul; "Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?" (Romans 7:24) I know the answer. "Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord." (Vs. 25) The question is; do I know it in my heart or only in my mind? Do I believe and trust, deep down in my soul? Would Jesus look at me and see the kind of faith which he saw in that Roman Centurion? Keep, no, Walk by Faith
Original content at: http://becauseofyeshua.org/?p=86.
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Scott Bartchy is a radical. He believes in a subversive system that embraces those on the fringes of our society and seeks to establish a new way of life that goes against the status quo.