Click Here For Today’s Reading
GENESIS 23:1-24:51 | MATTHEW 8:1-17 | PSALM 9:13-20 | PROVERBS 3:1-6
Click on the link below to listen to an audio recording of this post:
A wife for Isaac. That is the story in this passage about the great desire Abraham has for Isaac’s future bride and how he arranges to find one for him from the old country. Rebekah is the chosen one. It is an interesting study in how prayers are sometimes answered. Sometimes, God humors us and accedes to our requests for a sign.
The reading in Matthew continues with the accounts of Jesus healing the people of their illnesses and infirmities. The story of the centurion is a most fascinating one. Even Jesus is taken by the faith that this man shows when he approaches Jesus to ask for help.
Would that we might have a fraction of the faith that this man had! He didn’t wish for Jesus to come in person to heal his servant; he simply asks that Jesus speak the word — and believes that it will be done!
Jesus says of this man,“Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”
In our Psalm for the day, we find David speaking these words of confidence:
18 But God will never forget the needy;
the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
Finally, our verses from Proverbs are beautiful, and worthy of memorization, especially verse 5:
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word. Amen.
This morning at our church we had a reading from Acts 10, which came to mind as I was listening to your devotional just now. Cornelius in that chapter is another centurion whose faith is an example for the early believers just like the one in Matthew’s gospel. Centurions do well in the Christian scriptures; they are good examples. They were powerful men – commanders of one-hundred soldiers – so you could assume that they had some influence in their world at that time. And yet, as you point out, this one (as well as Cornelius) was a model of faith. I think it’s noteworthy too that he has compassion. He cares about a servant – so much so that he seeks out Jesus. I wonder how many powerful men at that time would do that on behalf of someone who was not an immediate family member.
Excellent points, all of them. You’d have to look high and far to find someone like that in that day and age, I think. A man of power and influence, he comes to Jesus in the most humble way – not a demanding way. And then, what is truly remarkable is that he doesn’t graciously ask to take Jesus back home with him to heal the servant. No, he says, you don’t need to come at all, just speak the word! That level of humility and utter faith would have been entirely unheard of for a man of his station. Do you think he was loved, respected, and honored by his friends, family servants, and even strangers? Undoubtedly, yes! So much to consider, reflect upon, and apply to one’s life!
As always, many thanks for your comments. God bless you.