If someone were to ask you to rate your faith in God on a scale of 1 -10, where would you place your mark? I think this is a question we all must ask ourselves. Throughout the Bible, we find people who had great faith and those who had no faith in God. Hebrews 11:1 teaches us that faith is the reality of what we hope for based on who our faith is placed in. It is different from belief because belief is a strongly held opinion based on what you read, hear, or see. Our beliefs change over time as we learn new things. Faith can only be received because it must be given by God. True faith can take on doubts and questions, but it will remain because the foundation stays the same. In James 2:19-20, even the devils believe, but they do not have faith. True faith without works is dead. Certainly, we know that the devils never do works for God.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
James 2:19-20 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
While on earth, Jesus was followed by many. Some came to see this “miracle man.” Others came out of curiosity, but some came to follow Him as their Savior and great teacher. In Luke 7, Jesus goes into Capernaum after spending time on the mountain teaching. A centurion, who put His faith in Jesus, had a servant that was near death. He sent for Jesus to come and heal his servant. As he approached the area where the centurion lived, the centurion sent word to Jesus to tell him not to trouble himself by coming to his house. He did not feel worthy for Jesus to be under his roof. His faith was so strong that he believed all Jesus had to do was say the word and his servant would be healed. Jesus was impressed by these words and proclaimed to those around Him that he had not seen faith this great in all Israel. Jesus rewarded his great faith by healing his servant. These Jewish elders that were sent to tell Jesus the request for healing must have been amazed, and a bit troubled with the idea that this Roman soldier had more faith than all of Israel!
Luke 7:1-9 “Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.”
How great is your faith? Do you believe that whatever we need God will provide, whatever we ask in His name He will do? Do you feel God owes you something for your belief in Him? Are you upset when God does not answer the way you think He should? Do you feel worthy? The Jewish leaders felt as if Jesus should answer the prayer because the centurion had done great works. It was almost as if they felt they could demand Jesus to answer, but it wasn’t their persistence or their demands that caused Jesus to act on the servant’s behalf, it was the faith of the centurion. The centurion knew he was not worthy but also knew Jesus could heal him from wherever He was.
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. We must live by faith. Each day we must believe that whatever God does is what is best for us. We not only need to accept it, but faith will also embrace it, and look to the future for God to work. Does that mean that we are not to hurt or disappointed when things don’t go our way? No, but it does mean we can have great hope because God loves us and sees the future we can’t see. He will work things out to our good, and it will be better than what we thought we needed. Faith is the only approach we have to God. Through faith our sins are forgiven, our home is secured in Heaven, and we can have the assurance of inward peace and happiness when our faith is anchored in Christ. Our faith pleases God more than anything else. It is the beginning of our walk with Him, and the passage to our life with Him forever.
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”
