20150910 AMAZING FAITH

AMAZING FAITH

Matthew 8:5-13 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with Him, (6) "Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain." (7) Jesus said, "I will come and heal him." (8) But the officer said, "Lord, I am not worthy to have You come into my home. Just say the word from where You are, and my servant will be healed. (9) I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, 'Go,' and they go, or 'Come,' and they come. And if I say to my slaves, 'Do this,' they do it." (10) When Jesus heard this, He was amazed. Turning to those who were following Him, He said, "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel! (11) And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. (12) But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (13) Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, "Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened." And the young servant was healed that same hour.

This Roman soldier came to Jesus for his servant and he came with a faith that amazed Jesus. Jesus points this out and berates His own people for their lack of faith and gives them a strong warning about the outcome of those who choose not to believe.

I think it important to comment on the illustration the Roman officer gave. He recognized Jesus as having the authority to simply speak a command and all of creation would have no choice but to obey.

Jesus honors his faith by speaking, “Because you believed, it has happened."

Father in heaven, grant us that kind of believing, understanding faith. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

20150819 GOOD EYE BAD EYE

GOOD EYE BAD EYE

Matthew 6:22-23 "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.  (23)  But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

There is much said about spiritual blindness and sight in the scriptures. Let us look at these two verses in light of what Jesus has said thus far in this chapter.

A good eye looks to give as quietly as possible because someone has a need. It looks to pray secretly because it sees its own need for the Father daily and the same need for its siblings. It looks to forgive quickly because it sees that it has been forgiven. It looks to fast quietly because it knows how much it needs the Father. And that eye is wide open and the light of God shines into the body through that eye and to it God gives His reward in His time.

A bad eye looks to be admired and to receive the praise of men. It gives with much fanfare when others are watching. It prays in public with many words and much false humility for the sake of those listening. It watches through a squinted eyelid for others to get the retribution coming to them and even looks in a conniving and secret manner for ways to bring it about. It fasts with a long, sorrowful face groaning about its sacrifice for

“the sake of God.” All the while its lids are barely slit so it can keep a watch on who is recognizing and adoring him as some great, sacrificing guru of the faith. That eye thinks it is letting in light, but it is only darkness that enters, a very loathsome dank darkness. The only reward it will see is the praises of those caught up in man worship. In the end those rewards will be as empty as the darkness that fills its heart.

The good eye is always looking to the Father and seeking Him and His Kingdom. The bad eye is always looking out for itself.

Father in heaven, be our eye doctor today. Search the motive of all we do and cleanse it, make it pure and holy. Wash all impure motives from our eyes and hearts. Do laser surgery if necessary, but give us eyes that are holy and wholly given over to You and Your purposes and then our lives will be filled with Your light for Your glory. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!