What is Faith?
Faith Calls for Perseverance
Matthew 8:5-13
The Message
5-6As Jesus entered the
village of Capernaum, a Roman captain came up in a panic and said,
"Master, my servant is sick. He can't walk. He's in terrible pain."
7Jesus said, "I'll come and heal him."
8-9"Oh, no," said the captain. "I don't want to put you to all that trouble. Just give the order and my servant will be fine. I'm a man who takes orders and gives orders. I tell one soldier, 'Go,' and he goes; to another, 'Come,' and he comes; to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."
10-12Taken aback, Jesus said, "I've yet to come across this kind of simple trust in Israel, the very people who are supposed to know all about God and how he works. This man is the vanguard of many outsiders who will soon be coming from all directions—streaming in from the east, pouring in from the west, sitting down at God's kingdom banquet alongside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then those who grew up 'in the faith' but had no faith will find themselves out in the cold, outsiders to grace and wondering what happened."
13Then Jesus turned to the captain and said, "Go. What you believed could happen has happened." At that moment his servant became well.
7Jesus said, "I'll come and heal him."
8-9"Oh, no," said the captain. "I don't want to put you to all that trouble. Just give the order and my servant will be fine. I'm a man who takes orders and gives orders. I tell one soldier, 'Go,' and he goes; to another, 'Come,' and he comes; to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."
10-12Taken aback, Jesus said, "I've yet to come across this kind of simple trust in Israel, the very people who are supposed to know all about God and how he works. This man is the vanguard of many outsiders who will soon be coming from all directions—streaming in from the east, pouring in from the west, sitting down at God's kingdom banquet alongside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then those who grew up 'in the faith' but had no faith will find themselves out in the cold, outsiders to grace and wondering what happened."
13Then Jesus turned to the captain and said, "Go. What you believed could happen has happened." At that moment his servant became well.
For Reflection
More than a noun that indicates a set of beliefs, faith is the window
to our confidence, conviction and trust. Our faith is both reflected in
our action and reinforced by it. Not only does our faith guide our
action, our action influences our faith. In a real sense what we do
cements or undermines our confidence, conviction and trust in God. The
captain's faith in the power, grace and identity of Jesus Christ
motivated his expression of confidence in Christ. This Roman, not of
the chosen people, had undeniable faith built on obedience and firmly
rooted to his action. The congruence of his faith and action will
ensure that his confidence, conviction and trust in Christ will not
decline. In a very real sense, for good or for ill, we all become what
we do. What are you doing that keeps you closely aligned with God?
Pray
that your actions lead you to a greater strength in your confidence,
conviction and trust in God. Pray that your action will reflect your
obedience to God's will for your life. Pray for others whose lives are
inconsistent with God's will and are caught in downward spiracles of
ill-conceived action and spiritual decline.
Thank you. This is a very helpful resource. Wish I had known about it sooner. I have been reading the Daily Bible Readings on my own each morning in preparation for the Sunday School lesson each week. This will enhance my study of the Word.
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