Attitude Of Faith

Yesterday, many of us were thrown into a sort of inner turmoil, when we saw how Jesus answered the prayer-request of a Gentile person who did not think that he was at all worthy to speak directly to Him. Jesus listened to the heart-cries of faith, as they were brought to Him by Jewish intercessors.  O how this man truly shakes us up and gets under our spiritual skin, for beyond the shadow of a doubt, that centurion exemplifies truth about faith in asking. This man of child-like faith, hears, believes, asks and receives. Is this not what Jesus promised to all who believe and ask? And all things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Matthew 21: 22. 

This takes us even further, when we see how Jesus listens to the Jewish elders and sets on His way with them, to the centurion’s house. Jesus has already granted the prayer request of the centurion. He’s on His way to perform the healing work. The asking and pleading of the Jewish elders is effective, for Jesus answers them and gives them exactly what they have asked for. They know success in their intercessory praying or asking. O how this tugs at me, deep and hard. What about you?

Do I truly believe that God the Father hears His Son, as He makes intercession for us, day and night, as our High Priest?  Is Father God giving Jesus, all that He is asking for, for us?  Where are you in all of this? Faith is fact and unless we know this as fact, how can we expect to receive the richness, grace, mercy, peace and fellowship there is, from Jesus’ daily prayers to God, for us?

Having diverted a bit, for valuable and sound receiving, we now head back to the text at hand. When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! Luke 7: 9.

We are noting exactly what Jesus heard, which made Him marvel and openly speak of it. We are also keeping mindful of the fact that this is all coming to Jesus second-hand. Permit me to quote some relevant Scripture verses here.

Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! Luke 7:  6 - 9

So what does Jesus hear? We begin our descent into the crux of the matter.

Jesus is hearing the voice of a certain centurion in magnified faith terms, as has not been heard previously. Remember, Jesus first heard the pleading voice of the centurion through Jewish elders. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. Luke 7: 3. Now, the centurion, sends friends to Jesus, and Jesus hears the voice of one whose attitude, attention, admission, and affection, reveal pure, unadulterated, great faith.

We are being schooled to hear and note four undeniable facts about great faith, faith which Jesus has heard from the centurion and which continues to excite Him, make Him marvel and make His heart glad. Here is the first of four.

Attitude of faith – Recognition of one’s unworthiness.

Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should come under my roof.

This attitude of faith of the centurion, is the attitude we should always have, the attitude which is only born of true faith. This attitude of faith is never born of self–piety, self-abasement, self-abashment or any kind of human-derived humility. Faith allows you and me to say like Paul, For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells. Romans 7: 8a. Faith grants us the attitude to resist and desist all the deceiver’s, ways, reasoning and explanations, to get us to see ourselves in better light, and others in worse light. Here it is, Jews, God-abiding children are holding the centurion as a man deserving, before Jesus, while he is holding himself before Jesus, as most unworthy.

Are you, who are seeking the good of God, in any part thereof, seeing yourself before Jesus as worthy?

Open my eyes that I may see,

Just who I am, the real true me.

Amen!