GOD’S KIND OF LOVE.
Scripture: Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10.
A faith that made Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith, marvel is worth examining.
This centurion believed that the spoken word of Jesus was sufficient to produce his miracle. He didn’t need Jesus to come to his house; he had faith in Jesus’ word.
Therefore, we can see that the person who simply believes the written word of God is operating in a much higher form of faith than those who require additional proof. Compare this centurion’s faith with the little faith of Thomas in John 20:20-29. Thomas refused to believe what he couldn’t see or feel.
Don’t we know people like that—those who just will not believe no matter what?
Our five senses were given to us by God and are necessary to help us function in this life. But if we do not renew our minds to acknowledge the limits of the five senses, they will keep us from believing. Faith can perceive things that the senses cannot—that’s Hebrews 11:1.
Sometimes we grow up in a household of doubt, fear, and being jaded—thinking the worst instead of thinking the best. These things are attached to us and go with us wherever we go.
When God says to renew the mind to the things of God, that’s part of the training: the renewing of your mind, the learning, the believing, the trusting. Every trial and every journey turns that big ship around toward God’s side instead of the other side where we’re sinking.
So let’s take God at His word here.
The type of faith that Thomas operated in was human or natural faith—it was based on what he could see. Jesus said there was a greater blessing to be obtained.
The greater blessing comes from using a supernatural, God-kind of faith that is based only on God’s word. Jesus and God’s word are one—that’s John 1:1 and John 14.
Believing God’s word is not just putting your trust in some printed words on the page of a book we call the Bible. There is much more involved. It’s a relationship with the person behind the words.
Get to know Him through His word, and start believing.
