My Bible reading today is from Luke 7:1-10, the story about the centurion whose faith surprised Jesus. He believed that Jesus could heal his servant who was dying, even without stepping foot into his house. "...say the word, and my servant will be healed."
Essentially, this man believed that Jesus was a man of authority - authority over even sickness & death. Jesus in turn was "amazed at him... he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."
I was challenged by this story -
To illustrate one of my recent struggles: Say I'm following up with one of the girls. Now my preference would be to meet up every week if possible - and the thought of meeting up a fortnight causes me to be a little uneasy. I have difficulty trusting that they will be alright during the two weeks that we don't meet... Although I pray for them, I have difficulty just letting go & trusting that God will continue to work in them in the meantime... In a sense, I pray but I don't know whether I could really trust that things will go well??
Quite arrogant isn't it? To think that I'm the one making the difference & not merely the tool in which God uses?!
So its quite a knife in the heart.. but this quote from the Encounter with God materials was really helpful in putting the finger on my issue:
Faith must be based on an understanding of Jesus' authority if it is to have any meaning. Are our prayers based on the vague conviction that God, acting in and through Jesus, might be able to do something, or are they based on the conviction that we are coming to the King of the Universe who has ultimate authority over all things? This is not to say that we will always get what we ask, for God has authority over us too, but it is to say that we can afford to come and make our requests in the total conviction that he has the power to act.
.... So what's going to change? Now I can pray with more confidence, not in my own feeble prayers... but in the God who has the power and authority to answer them!
Essentially, this man believed that Jesus was a man of authority - authority over even sickness & death. Jesus in turn was "amazed at him... he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."
I was challenged by this story -
- Jesus had the authority & power to act.
- It showed me the kind of faith the centurion had.
- (Putting 1 & 2 together), it showed me the kind of faith I had, or lack thereof, that Jesus had the authority & power to act!
To illustrate one of my recent struggles: Say I'm following up with one of the girls. Now my preference would be to meet up every week if possible - and the thought of meeting up a fortnight causes me to be a little uneasy. I have difficulty trusting that they will be alright during the two weeks that we don't meet... Although I pray for them, I have difficulty just letting go & trusting that God will continue to work in them in the meantime... In a sense, I pray but I don't know whether I could really trust that things will go well??
Quite arrogant isn't it? To think that I'm the one making the difference & not merely the tool in which God uses?!
So its quite a knife in the heart.. but this quote from the Encounter with God materials was really helpful in putting the finger on my issue:
Faith must be based on an understanding of Jesus' authority if it is to have any meaning. Are our prayers based on the vague conviction that God, acting in and through Jesus, might be able to do something, or are they based on the conviction that we are coming to the King of the Universe who has ultimate authority over all things? This is not to say that we will always get what we ask, for God has authority over us too, but it is to say that we can afford to come and make our requests in the total conviction that he has the power to act.
.... So what's going to change? Now I can pray with more confidence, not in my own feeble prayers... but in the God who has the power and authority to answer them!
2 comments:
Hi Jess,
Guess what? I finally managed to finish reading all your blog in one sitting! Haha... Glad to see how much joy you have in learning and serving the Lord! Will continue to pray for your walk. Oh, very important question... have you weighed yourself on the scales yet? Let me know if you need me to do something about it yah? *wink*
~MK
Maggie Mag Mag,
Haha.. I weighed myself a few weeks ago & it seemed to be staying constant. But I don't know how the next few months will go!
What about you? Hopefully you don't need to alter your dress! ^_^
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