Why Are We Not Willing to Accept Jesus Fully?

Verses:  Matthew 8:5-13

My thoughts about the verses:

Think about this a moment.  How often do we say that we trust you Lord to provide our needs?  In the very next breath we try to devise a plan to obtain what we just asked God to provide.  Is this truly depending on God to provide all of our needs?

Believers in modern day society and in days long ago had this same issue.  We want to believe that God can fix it.  Yet, we also believe that we have to help God fix it.  We feel that it isn’t enough just to ask God for help.  We have this urging deep down inside to show God or even help God meet our needs.

The centurion would be seen as an outcast of the Hebrew community.  In fact, he was most likely there to prevent rebellion from occurring in this part of the Roman society.  He was most likely despised and though ill of.  Yet, he does something that many of us throughout time have not been able to do.

Imagine how humbling it must have been for this man to come and ask for help with his servant.  He knew that Jesus had the power to heal.  He went straight to the person that could save the one that he cared for.  Yet, he also respected Jesus.  He felt as if he was not worthy to ask Jesus to come to his home to heal his servant.  He simply asked Jesus to heal him and his servant was healed.

It is what he says next that adds something that we need to think about when it comes to studying about the power Jesus possesses.  Think about this a moment.  The centurion comments that he too has people that he has authority over.  If he tells them what to do they will instantly do it.  If he tells them to go this place or the next they will go without questioning.  Yet, he humbly asks Jesus not to drop what he is doing and run to his house to save the servant.  Instead he simply asks if Jesus would do what others seemed as impossible and heal without being in the presence of the one that needed healing.  He saw Jesus as more powerful than the rule he had over people.

Jesus commented that he had faith.  Faith that was so strong that he would grant the request without questioning it.  He made it clear that there would be those of the Hebrew faith that would go into the next realm doomed.  He also made it clear that this man and his faith had established him an eternal life.  It wasn’t the centurions power that made him redeemed it was actually his acceptance of his weakness that led to his salvation.  His servant was healed and he was saved from the ultimate doom because of his faith.

Prayer:

We love you God.  We praise you for your healing powers.  We thank you for eternal salvation.  Help us have the faith of the centurion.  Help us remember that you can do all things.  In the name of the Most Holy we pray.  Amen

Questions:

Do you have the faith to trust God will fulfill your needs?  Have you asked God to take away the hurt and pain in your life?  Are you willing to have faith in God without having to physically see his work being performed?  Isn’t this what faith is all about accepting the power of Jesus without having to see the works of Jesus’s hand?