PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 8:5-13
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” (Matthew 8:10)
Jesus continues to show how the kingdom of God changes everything.
Under the Law of Moses, Israel was graciously chosen by God from all the nations.
They were given the Law to be a light, to be inspire and attract the nations.
“Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.” (Psalm 119:98)
Too often God’s graced people see themselves as better and wiser than others.
This centurion shows us that in God’s kingdom even ‘unbelievers’ can be saved.
All who are open to Jesus, and admit their need for mercy, are graciously welcome.
Jesus goes on to observe that many non-Jews will be more receptive than the Jews.
Translated for today, some church-goers will not be saved, some non-church-goers will!
People we expect to be there will not be; people we do not expect will be!
As Jesus followers, we ought to know that we are saved by grace, not performance.
We ought to love non-Jesus followers, bless them and even learn from them.
They need Jesus like us, and they also show faith, hope and love in their own way.
Jesus changes the way we see the ‘other’; they belong in God’s kingdom too!
PRAYER
Lord, how surprised I will be on the last day when I see people there I didn’t expect to be there! Remind me how surprising it is that I will be there too!
Jesus is looking for true faith. He sees it in children and says to such belong the kingdom, and here he says it of a Roman centurion: “I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith”. It is Jesus who is the way to the Father. Believing in Him is what matters. Believing leads to connection to receiving the gift of the HS – and a life of purpose – worth living. Lord help me to simply trust – even when things seem to go wrong!
Come to Jesus just as you are.
Focus on my own relationship to Him rather than others. All too often we/I see others with a log in our own eye. All for Jesus. Jesus accepts all who believe and I am not part of that process. I too need to be saved by His grace like all others. I am not in charge. He is! Jesus Saviour pilot me.
1 Come to the Savior, make no delay;
Here in His word He’s shown us the way;
Here in our midst He’s standing today,
Tenderly saying, “Come!”
Refrain:
Joyful, joyful will the meeting be,
When from sin our hearts are pure and free;
And we shall gather, Savior, with Thee,
In our eternal home.
2 “Suffer the children!” O hear His voice;
Let every heart leap forth and rejoice;
And let us freely make Him our choice;
Do not delay, but come. [Refrain]
3 Think once again, He’s with us today;
Heed now His blest commands, and obey;
Hear now His accents tenderly say,
“Will you My children, come? [Refrain]