How to show Humility AND Expectation when using your Faith

Since the exercise and use of Faith is so crucial to our ability to follow His Plan for us, it is very important to know how Faith works - and for WHOM it can work:

Luke 7:1-10 (New Living Translation)

The Faith of a Roman Officer

7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people, he returned to Capernaum. ² At that time the highly valued slave of a Roman officer was sick and near death. ³ When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. ⁴ So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, ⁵ “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.”

⁶ So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. ⁷ I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. ⁸ I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

⁹ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” ¹⁰ And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed.

See that the blessings that were sought were made manifest as a result of a great exercise of Faith from a Pagan Commander. This tells us that Faith is a matter of the heart and soul, not about being schooled and born into it. 

Now look at the text - verses 3-4 indicate that the Roman Officer did not treat the Jews under his charge with anything but respect. Their belief systems were different (at the time), but he did not dismiss them out of hand simply because they worshipped differently. Verses 6-7 Shows that the Commander is open to Jesus and to God, and that he approaches Him with great humility and reverence. Verse 8 explains how our Faith works. This is also a prime example of God's ability to use ANYONE to get His message understood by each of us! A Pagan who understands authority is ready to understand and utilize Godly Faith - so why do we often have such a hard time doing the same? 

Faith in God and in His power to make things happen is within each of us. If we refuse to use our Faith until we receive proof, then we are denying that He has toe power to do what we are asking. If, however, we Step Out on Faith and we make the choice to believe BEFORE we see it, then we are placing our Faith in Him and in His Plan for us. 

Make sure that your Faith bet is in the right place and be Ready to Receive from Him!

Blessings,

Bryan