Jesus: Beautiful Word
Now a centurion had a bond servant who was held in honor and highly valued by him, who was sick and at the point of death. And when the centurion heard of Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come and make his bond servant well…Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent [some] friends to Him, saying, Lord, do not trouble [Yourself], for I am not sufficiently worthy to have You come under my roof; Neither did I consider myself worthy to come to You. But [just] speak a word, and my servant boy will be healed. For I also am a man [daily] subject to authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my bond servant, do this, and he does it. Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and He turned and said to the crowd that followed Him, I tell you, not even in [all] Israel have I found such great faith [as this]. And when the messengers who had been sent returned to the house, they found the bond servant who had been ill quite well again. Luke 7:2-3, 6-10 AMPC
Do you ever judge yourself unworthy? Find yourself shaken? Get stuck in a comparison trap? Believe that it’s right and good for others to go ahead of you but it’s not for you to join Jesus’ party and be in His presence?
Was it humility the centurion had or was this what he was struggling with? Regardless of the answer what the centurion did have was a recognition of Jesus’ authority, and not just the authority of His person but the authority of His Word.
Of all the things we need in this life is recognition of and submission to the authority of the person of Jesus, the Word. He is our hope, and it is our hope that goes before us into the Presence within the veil.
Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it–a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil, [Lev. 16:2.] Where Jesus has entered in for us [in advance], a Forerunner having become a High Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek. [Ps. 110:4.] Hebrews 6:19-20 AMPC
For,
The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple. Psalm 119:130 AMPC
Indeed!
Buy the truth and sell it not; not only that, but also get discernment and judgment, instruction and understanding. The father of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) shall greatly rejoice, and he who becomes the father of a wise child shall have joy in him. Proverbs 23:23-24 AMPC
And,
Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience… be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. James 1:3, 22 AMPC
Jesus said He had never seen faith in all Israel like that of the centurion, a warrior, no less.
…FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. Hebrews 11:1 AMPC
The basis an object of our faith is the Word, Jesus.
…The Word (God’s message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach, [Deut. 30:14.] Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation. The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed. [Ps. 34:22; Isa. 28:16; 49:23; Jer. 17:7.] Romans 10:8-11 AMPC
But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. Hebrews 11:6 AMPC
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. John 3:16 AMPC
So,
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. Proverbs 3:5 AMPC
Jesus said,
…Have faith in God [constantly]. Mark 11:22 AMPC
Yes,
May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, Ephesians 3:17 AMPC
That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God). Romans 4:22 AMPC
What more beautiful Word can be spoken then His Word to the woman who had an issue of chronic bleeding?
And He said to her, Daughter, your faith (your confidence and trust in Me) has made you well! Go (enter) into peace (untroubled, undisturbed well-being). Luke 8:48 AMPC
Wow! Imagine that an untroubled, undisturbed, unflinching state of well-being. Trusting that you are welcome in His Presence.
Therefore,
May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope. Romans 15:13 AMPC