When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”
Matthew 8:10, NKJV
Let’s try to imagine what kind of faith we could have that would cause Jesus to marvel, to be amazed. The Centurion who came to Jesus seeking healing for his servant gives us an example of great faith. First of all, he was humble. He told Jesus he was not worthy to come into His presence, but he believed if Jesus merely spoke the words of healing, his servant would be well. He also lets Jesus know that as a centurion, he is a man with a certain amount of authority and people come and go at his bidding. At the same time, he knows that his status, his position in life, can do nothing to help his servant. He recognizes that only God can make a difference. Ultimately, Jesus tells him to go on his way because his servant is healed. Jesus says to him, “Go your way, and as you have believed, so it will be done for you.” And then, Jesus marveled!
What kind of faith do you have? Is it the kind that humbles itself before the living God and remembers that it is powerless without God? Is it the kind that steps aside from titles and positions of authority, and worldly renown and says, “I’m not worthy?” Faith that causes Jesus to marvel is faith built on absolute, unshakeable trust in God! It’s faith on a mission that won’t give up. It’s faith that has surrendered every ounce of ego and looked only to the possibility that comes through God’s strength and power.
Perhaps then it is the duty of faith to trust beyond measure, to move forward at the sound of God’s voice, and to believe with every fiber of our being that only God has the answer. It’s faith that rests in the arms of a loving and forgiving and generous Father. It’s the faith that caused Abraham to leave his home and start a new family of God. It’s the faith that boldly takes a stand, trusting that God’s got this.
Let’s rise up and demonstrate the kind of faith that would cause Jesus to marvel. It’s that kind of faith that can help change the world.