Week 2 | Monday

I'd like to amaze Jesus with my faith!

I would like to grow by being slow to anger, to listen wholeheartedly and to ask questions. To give grace to others. Essentially I would always like to be more like Jesus and even though I know I cannot be Jesus I find myself thinking how would Jesus feel or react and use that to help refocus myself at times.

What a great way to start our week! The story of the centurion and Jesus' amazement at his faith sets the stage for us to be drawn out of our our comfort zone-out of our regular expectations. Prepare to see Jesus move in unexpected ways! Like Ken, I would like to "amaze" Jesus with my faith. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, I ask You to produce this kind of faith in me. As faith grows, I can't claim any credit. It is God who produces it. This centurion has used his funds to help build a synagogue. God is already at work in Him as he hears about Jesus and acts on his faith!

I have spent much of my professional life in academic contexts around people who are very well educated. They often are very kind, generous, and gracious people, yet they seem to be far from any kind of faith. Their lives seem very "put together." The box I put them in is that they view faith as something for the simple-minded or uneducated, and that they secretly look down on people who believe in God. I have to admit that I don't really know if this is true because there are not many opportunities to have honest conversations about faith. I confess I need to change my attitude and see them as people who need to hear about Jesus. I need to pray for them. I need to be more open about my own faith.

One of my cousins (who is not a believer) is married to a really great guy, and AJ & I really love them. I would like to see them--but especially him--become a believer. He respects our faith a great deal, and is always kind and loving to everyone he meets, but being atheistic causes him to be a very materialistic person. Sometimes I think it gives my cousin a lot of stress and dissatisfaction to be constantly thinking about "stuff". Fortunately they do have one child and are doing a great job as parents, which has tempered the materialism a bit over the past 13 years. But I would like to pray for them to know Jesus, and for me to be a good example of God's love to them.

Oh Lord may my faith grow as strong as this Roman officer's. My prayer is that our sons will see our faith and trust in God and that the Holy Spirit would permeate their lives. They were all brought up in the Lord but have grown cold. Our hearts desire is that they would be strong followers of the Word. They are good guys with a lot of heart, care and compassion. Through much hurt in their lives they have grown cold. Father I ask that thy Holy Spirit would call them by name and they would harken to your call. In Jesus name I pray.

Jesus's healing doesn't depend upon whether someone is worthy or deserving. The Jewish elders thought the centurion was deserving of healing because he helped them and therefore was important to them. However, the centurion himself said he was not deserving but knew that Jesus could heal anyway. The centurion showed meekness and humility. He showed strength but was in control as he obeyed and respected the authority of those above and below his position. And that includes the authority of God over his life. That amazed the Lord as great faith.