Pure, Unselfish Faith Honored by Heaven

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Pure, Unselfish Faith Honored by Heaven

Today's Text: And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. Matthew 8:5-7

The Message:      The centurion felt his unworthiness. He was a man of contrite spirit although he was a man of authority. He felt unworthy to have Jesus Christ, with His miracle-working power, come under his roof, but His word spoken would be all that was essential, just as the centurion could say to his soldiers under him, "Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it." He had confidence in the merely spoken words of Christ to restore his servant. When Jesus heard it, He marveled. "Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."...      The Jewish nation would not receive their promised Messiah when He came in just the manner prophecies declared He would come. Here was a man, not professedly of Israel, who had not had the opportunities that Israel had abundantly received, who in faith and appreciation of Christ was far in advance of the people of Israel, whom the Lord had made the repository of most sacred, precious truth.      Who were Israelites indeed-Jew or Gentile, barbarian, Scythian, bond or free? Jesus "was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not." John 1:10, 11. But this Roman, a commander in authority, came to Jesus with a most earnest entreaty for one of his servants, sick of palsy, grievously tormented with pain. His faith in its simplicity was a pure, unselfish faith. He asks not of Jesus, "Show me a sign from heaven," but solicits Him to work a cure for his suffering servant. He tells Him he feels unworthy to have Him come under his roof. He who dwells in the high and lofty place, yet will He come and make His abode with the humble and contrite in heart....      Let people receive the light as presented in the Word of God, in truth, and there will be a steadfastness of purpose that will enable them to stand erect in moral independence amid difficulties and danger. A character is formed, barricaded by truth-a character that will abide the day of trial and test before us, however dark may be the pressure, however severe the tribulation that the day of God's preparation may bring forth. The principle of righteousness works outward from within and makes itself felt.-Letter 114, 1895.

Commentary: My friend, the faith of the Centurion was accepted by heaven because it did not demand of Christ a sign from above that He was the Son of God.  His faith was humble and steadfast, knowing that He could grant his request.  His heart was humble and unselfish, not asking of Jesus for his own benefit, but for the benefit of his servant whom he loved.  Though he was not of the line of Abraham, his heart was in harmony with the heart of Christ. The faith that this humble Centurion had is the same faith that we must have in the last days.  Our hearts must be humble and contrite, recognizing our unworthiness, but holding on by faith that God will hear and answer our petitions in accordance to His mighty will.  The three Hebrew boys whos faith was tested on the plain of Dura said to the King "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." (Daniel 3:16-18).  They had faith that their God could save them from the burning fiery furnace, but even if He chose not to, they would not bow down and worship the golden image of Babylon. The test that these three had to go through is of the same nature that we will have to go through in the last days.  At that time our faith will be tested.  Those who have made it a habit to trust in God now, will not find it difficult to trust in Him when it matters most.  To all those who profess to be followers of Christ will be said "...who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?" (Daniel 3:15). When Jesus was being beaten and persecuted leading up to the cross, all outward signs of God's love for His Son was taken away, and it appeared that He was forsaken of God.  Jesus cried unto His Father He saying "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? " (Mark 15:34).  Yet even though it appeared that He was forsaken by His Father, He held fast to His faith, and in the end said "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:" (Luke 23:46). My friend, the faith that we will need in the last days is the faith of Jesus: a faith that when tested and tried will not despair, and will not be fail us though our lives are threatened.  Only as we trust in Christ as Christ trusted in His Father, will we be able to stand in the last days.  Heaven must declare of us "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12). May you trust in God today, that you may trust in Him when it matters most. God bless,

Video of the Week Biblical Monotheism - Part 1 by Imad Awde What does the Bible say about God's Oneness? Is the one God of the Bible made up of three Persons? If the Father is God, and Jesus is God, how come there is only one God? Join Imad as he answers these questions and more in this three part series.