Title:
“The day God dropped his jaw!”
If you had followed Jesus around during his earthly walk, each day I am sure that you would have had a reason to marvel at his "amazing grace." You would have been awed by his wisdom and the majesty of his miracles. On this occasion we read that Jesus marveled at the faith of the centurion.
1. Get under God’s authority.
Although the centurion was a man of authority, he was also a "man under authority." He had power of many men, but he did not have power over sickness, disease, and death. He believed Jesus had that power. He was willing to yield to the Lordship of Christ.
Many times people want God to bless their lives, and yet they are not willing to come "under the authority" of Christ. In this text, the centurion demonstrated his faith by believing that Jesus was the Christ and yielding to his authority.
2. Claim a Bible promise.
Just as the Centurion had authority over his men, he believed that Jesus had authority over all of creation. If Christ merely gave the word, that the servant was to be healed, the Centurion believed that whatever Christ said would happen, would happen.
God’s promises are found in the Word of God. I do not know what you are going through in your life, but I do not that if you would be willing to get under God’s authority, that God would go to work on your behalf. Read your Bible. Claim all of the promises that are written just for you!
3. Move on with your life.
In Luke’s gospel, in chapter seven, we also read this account of the centurion and his servant. The centurion did not personally go and see Christ, he sent messages asking for his help. When Jesus made his way to the home of the centurion, he once again sent a message saying that Christ did not need to come to his house in order for the miracle to occur.
Once we have placed ourselves under God’s authority, and once we have placed our problems under God’s authority, let us leave the decision making process up to Christ! He has promised to bear our burdens!
Move on with your life.
Last week in the paper, I read about a man out in Colorado who became upset with his local city government. He had gotten a fine for violating a city ordinance. He became so upset that he moved his bull dozer into his garage and welded it into an armored tank. Once finished, he plowed through his garage door and proceeded to plow his way to City Hall leaving a wide path of destruction in his wake. The confrontation came to an end when the man driving his tank ended his own life by putting a bullet through his head.
This centurion had power. He could plow through almost anything. But when his servant became sick, he realized that his only hope was in Christ.
I want to live my life in such a way, that from time to time, God marvels at my faith!
Has your faith ever caused God to "drop his jaw?"
