Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Matthew 8:10.
The centurion did not question the Saviour’s power…. He had not seen the Saviour, but the reports he heard had inspired him with faith…. In the teaching of Christ, as it had been reported to him, he found that which met the need of the soul. All that was spiritual within him responded to the Saviour’s words. But he felt unworthy to come into the presence of Jesus, and he appealed to the Jewish elders to make request for the healing of his servant.
On the way to the centurion’s home, Jesus receives a message from the officer himself, “Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof.” Still the Saviour keeps on His way, and the centurion comes in person to complete the message, saying, “Neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee,” “but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.” …
“As thou hast believed,” Christ said, “so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”
The Jewish elders had commended the centurion to Christ because of the favor he had shown to “our nation.” He is worthy, they said, for “he hath built us a synagogue.” But the centurion said of himself, “I am not worthy.”30The Ministry of Healing, 63-65.
His heart had been touched by the grace of Christ. He saw his own unworthiness; yet he feared not to ask help. He trusted not to his own goodness; his argument was his great need. His faith took hold upon Christ in His true character. He did not believe in Him merely as a worker of miracles, but as the friend and Saviour of mankind.
It is thus that every sinner may come to Christ…. Renouncing all self-dependence, we may look to the cross of Calvary and say,—
“In my hand no price I bring;
Simply to Thy cross I cling.”
Conflict and Courage p. 296
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Mitch and family as they mourn the loss of Shirley, their mother and grandmother. Rose
—–Please pray for our friend for easy delivery, she has been induced for almost 24 hours or maybe more but still no sign of delivery. She has been diagnosed with diabetes and her son might be diabetic too. She is alone and very scared right now. Samantha
—–I am praying for my 8 year old son to be able to attend Christian School this coming year. Jennifer
—–Please keep Linda and family in prayer. She lost her sister-in-law to cancer over the weekend. Angie
—–Asking for prayer for traveling mercies and my daughter and I travel cross country today and tomorrow. Dahlia
—–My cousin Wendy is having back surgery (ALIF (Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion)) on the 20th, please keep her in your prayers! RL
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Dear Friends,
When I was four, a lady that my mother worked with bought a television set. Now days, it is nothing to get a new TV, but it was one of the first TV’s in Kalamazoo, so it was a novelty. She invited many of her coworkers to her house to see it. Even though I was a little girl, I remember the event. We all gathered closely around the TV viewing a picture that was so snowy, that it was hard to figure out what we were seeing.
The next time I saw a TV was when Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. Mrs. Perry, who owned the dry cleaners next door to us, invited us to her home to watch this event. The picture was clearer and even though I was still a little girl and did not understand it all, I enjoyed the pageantry. Over the years improvements have been made to television sets until today the TV’s are in high definition and one can see more than clearly.
We are a little like those TV sets. When we first come to Christ, we are far from what He would like us to be, but His heart is full of joy that we have made our first steps toward Him. We give a very snowy picture of His image, just like that first TV I saw, but it is still a picture. Praise God! He does not leave us in that condition. He works with us and helps us to become more like Him and to shine with a brighter and clearer light.
Through a study of His Word, we are changed into His likeness. David says, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Ps 119:9-11 Jesus tells us, ?Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.? Matt 5:14-16 Paul advises, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15
May we shine brightly for the Great Light is my prayer.
Rose
I Am Not Worthy