Is your Faith great?
Christian life is a life of faith. A life of consistent growth as we learn more about God and ourselves. I wrote about what it means to have little faith in my previous post. I’d like to touch upon couple of instances of faith which Jesus called great in people.
“When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Matthew 8:10
A Roman centurion approached Jesus for the healing of his servant. Jesus offered to go to his house to heal him. The centurion, not wanting Jesus to go through all the trouble of going to his house, proclaimed boldly that if Jesus would only say a word his servant would be healed. The centurion reveals a faith that even the disciples did not have at that point in time, even though they were following him everyday. The centurion having heard of Jesus understood the power Jesus had over the power of darkness. The centurion knew the power in authority. A person in authority is a man of power whose word is final. The centurion understood that because he himself was a man of power over a 100 soldiers.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” Ephesians 3:20
In another instance, we see the great faith of the Canaanite woman. She wanted her daughter to be healed. But, Jesus tested her by positioning Himself as one who came only for the Jews (children). Yet, her faith in Jesus, won Jesus over. Also, on reading the entire verses in context, though she was called a dog, she revealed her faithfulness to his word.
“Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” Matthew 15:28
What I find amazing about these two, the centurion and the Canaanite woman is their belief in Jesus, though it wasn’t their time. They believed what they heard about Jesus. They believed in the power of His Word.
Even today, I see many non believers genuinely believe in Gods Word, but only to receive healing and never following Jesus. Many eventually turn to Jesus after having realised what they worshipped was a religious activity only.
Christians who have chosen to take the narrow road must grow beyond great faith to be an example for the glory of God. Following Jesus daily, loving His Word and shining His light into a world lost in darkness.