Faith’s Marvel: Exploring the Power of Belief in Matthew 8
January 9 Genesis 36-37; Matthew 8; Psalm 104
Matthew 8:10 ESV
“When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who followed Him, ‘Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.’
It’s almost hard to fathom, but our Jesus can marvel. He can be brought to wonder. The One who was slain before the foundation of the world, the Alpha and Omega, can be brought to a pause. And what is it that causes our Jesus to marvel?
Our faith.
In all the stuff, in all the good things we can accomplish, it’s our faith that moves the heart of God. It’s our faith that determines what God is able to do in our lives. Think of that.”
Later, in this same conversation with the Gentile centurion, whose very faith moved the Son of God, Jesus said:
Matthew 8:13 “Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.’ And his servant was healed at that moment.”
What a proclamation! “Let it be done just as you believed it would.” These verses are profound. They are challenging. They mess with my theology just a bit. I have a sense of the Lord baiting me, inviting me to believe in Him.
What is the Lord looking for? What is our God after? Could it be that the God of the universe, the God who said, “Let there be light” (and there was light!), is simply waiting on someone, anyone, who will just believe what He says? He’s looking for a man or a woman who will have faith in His character?
More than anything, I want to be someone who causes our Jesus to marvel. Not at some great thing, some great accomplishment, something I can do. But I want Him to marvel at what I will trust and believe He can do! I want to move the heart of God.
Heavenly Father, would you anoint us to believe in You! Would you enable us to trust You in such a way that we move the heart of your Son to wonder. This is our desire. This is our prayer.
Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts
- Faith in Action: Reflect on a time when your faith significantly influenced a decision you made. How did it feel to act on faith, and what was the outcome?
- Trust and Belief: Consider a challenging situation where you need to trust in something greater than yourself. What are your fears and hopes in this scenario, and how does your faith shape your perspective?
- Inspiring Marvel in Others: Write about someone who has marveled at your actions or character. What did you do, and how did it reflect your faith or beliefs?
- God’s Character and Faith: How do you perceive God’s character in your daily life? Reflect on moments when you felt a deep connection to or understanding of this character.
- Prayerful Reflections: Craft a personal prayer that expresses your desire to grow in faith and trust. How do you wish to see this prayer manifested in your life?
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