Matthew 8
August 19, 2015
Faith. I think people make it more complicated than it really is. The leper and the centurion both had faith. In this case their faith was based on a belief that Jesus was powerful enough to heal the sickness. Faith is a a belief not in my abilities but in God’s power.
But I also believe that it was the will of God to heal the leper and the Centurion’s servant. Jesus says to the leper that He was willing. There are times when I believe fully in God’s ability to change my situation and He does not - so what then? Is it because I don’t have enough faith? Should my faith in God’s ability waver? I don’t think so. God’s power is immeasurable and nothing is impossible for Him, but sometimes His plan involves not answering my request no matter how great my belief is in His ability. So what should my response to Him be? A loss of faith? No I think I must then have a greater faith in His love for me and stand firm in knowing that whatever happens, as I continue to walk in submission and intimacy, He will be with me and it will work for my good.
Faith is grounded even more when we have a promise from God - so if God says something in His Word then I can believe that He will accomplish it and I can take it to the bank. Beyond a shadow of a doubt I know that I am forgiven and set free from the chains of sin. I can live with the assurance that God does not hold my sin against me because I have confessed them and asked for forgiveness. I can believe that one day Jesus will return for His people and that He is preparing a place for me in heaven so that I can be with Him. I can believe what Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount regarding not worrying about tomorrow because He will take care of our needs. The list goes on. I suppose the end result of all this faith talk is that it should be a faith walk. Like Abraham I must live as though I truly believe God’s Word. I must walk as a freed and forgiven man. I must live with the expectation of His return. I should not worry and fret about provision of my needs.