Great Faith---Monday Message from the Heart

Jesus only uses the term great faith twice as far as an account that we have within the bible. 

In Matthew 8 we first see the Centurion who was a Gentile and a Roman soldier who was in an authority position. He recognized the authority that Jesus had and even called him by Lord. He came to him because he had a servant who was sick. He said in verse 6, “Lord, my servant lies at home sick of palsy, grievously tormented," and in that moment, Jesus said to him that he would come, and he would heal him. The Centurion had told Jesus that he was not worthy for Jesus to even enter into his home. He said that if he just say the word and he would be healed. The Centurion had such a great faith in who Jesus was and the authority that lied within him. Jesus went on to say that he was marveled and said to them that followed “Verily I say to you I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel”. What a compliment that would’ve been. Then, just by His word, Jesus healed his servant! 

In Matthew 15:21-28, Jesus encounters a Canaanite woman whose daughter was possessed by a demon. Throughout Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus primarily focuses on preaching to the Jewish people, who the Messiah promised to Israel throughout prophecy. The woman, who was a gentile, came to Jesus seeking help for her daughter and is met with what seems like a non-compassionate response from Jesus. He tells her that his mission is primarily to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel," and using the analogy of "children's bread" not being right for "dogs." Sounds harsh, huh? The term "dogs" is not used in a way to downgrade or to put down like we would think. In the context of the time, it referred to Gentiles, who were technically Pagen and not of a Jewish background. The woman, however, accepts this comparison and uses it to express her humility and desire for even a small portion of Jesus's power to heal her daughter. With the woman’s desire to continue to peruse Jesus, He was impressed by her GREAT FAITH and ultimately grants her the request, and her daughter was healed. It makes me wonder that if that Jesus knew he was going to heal her daughter, but he wanted to see if her faith would continue until he did. 

This encounter between Jesus and the Gentile woman and the Centurion, who also was a Gentile, is significant! It shows that Jesus was willing to extend his grace beyond the Jewish community. These encounters of compassion and openness to heal and save all people is what Jesus truly came to do, and the two accounts of GREAT FAITH was with 2 Gentiles. 

"Great" by definition means "of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above the normal or average.

To have Faith means to have complete trust or confidence in someone or something. The Bible contains a clear definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

For Jesus to say that these two people had GREAT FAITH, they must have had a considerable amount of faith that was above average for that time. As we look at our life and we reflect at the faith that we have. I’m sure there are areas that we’ve lacked faith in and then there are areas that we’ve had faith that was so strong. Faith is what ultimately saves us at the moment we come to Christ and believe upon what He did on the cross. But faith is also something that we will greatly grow in as we continue our walk with the Lord. There are times I can look back and think, I had some pretty strong faith, but I have to ask myself, have I ever had truly great faith? Ask yourself that as well as you reflect on your walk with the Lord and look to see where you truly need to have great faith. 

• What area of your life do you need to continue to ask in prayer and need the faith to do so?
• What issue are you lacking faith in for God to move? 
• Where and what have you been placing your faith in?

Heavenly Father, 

I come to you today to confess that I do not always ask in full faith. Forgive me when my faith is weak and help me to have hope in the outcomes that are not seen yet. Please strengthen my faith, Lord. Help me fully surrender to You. When I feel like I struggle in my faith, Lord, I ask that You renew my heart and restore my trust in You. Help me to remember Your faithfulness in my past and Your promises for the future. Fill me fully with Your peace and give me strength to believe that You are working all things for good. 

In Jesus' name, 

AMEN