{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"What Amazes God","description":" When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at the commander. Jesus turned to the crowd that was following him. He said, \u201cI tell you, even in Israel I have not found anyone whose faith is so strong.\u201d (Luke 7:9-10). How does one get noticed by God or get into his good books? How do I get into heaven? Common questions. Many Christians will answer with \u201cby grace through faith\u201d (Ephesians 2:8). Of course, that\u2019s right. Yet I wonder how many Christians realize how difficult it is to hold to this. When we go to funerals, we generally get a recitation of the deceased person\u2019s good qualities. Often summed up like this, \u201cthey were an angel in this life, so of course God will let them in. Heaven has another angel.\u201d In other words, if I do enough good in this world, I will get into heaven. It\u2019s difficult for us Christians to keep this sentiment from creeping into our worldview. Our text suggests a different question, \u201cWhat amazes God?\u201d We meet a good Roman military man who loves the Jewish nation. He was wealthy enough to have helped the Jews build their synagogue in Capernaum. In this story, he sends some Jewish elders to Jesus hoping for help with his dying servant. These elders advocate for him, \u201cHe is a good man, Jesus, he deserves your help.\u201d On the way to this Roman home, Jesus is met by the man\u2019s friends with a double message (7:7). First, \u2018I am unworthy of your attention\u2019. He recognizes that despite having done significant good, God owes him nothing. Can we say that? Self-worth often subverts our faith. We get angry with God thinking that we deserve better than we are getting. This man did not even feel worthy of being visited by God\u2019s agent. Second, the unnamed man believes Jesus has authority over illness, just say the word and it will be accomplished. He believed Jesus could heal by a simple sovereign word even at a physical distance\u2014a situation that applies even more today considering Jesus\u2019 presence in heaven. And he knew that Jesus cared enough to do so. Such faith and humility in God\u2019s power amazes Jesus. This isn\u2019t abstract belief about God or the learning of dogmas. It is the simple, clear belief that what Jesus commands will be done. Further, when God acts for our good, it is undeserved. The gospels are full of stories in which the things Jesus does and speaks amaze people. But here Jesus is amazed. It was not the man\u2019s accomplishments or his good works, that amazed Jesus, but the man\u2019s faith in who Jesus is and in his power. We are invited to consider our own faith. Do we believe this about Jesus? Here is a Gentile who understood who Christ is. This passage calls us to possess a similar faith. God owes us nothing, yet he extends his compassion to us. God honors us with his grace, not because we deserve it, but because he cares (1 John 4:9\u201310). Let us be amazed at our God. As you journey on, go with the blessing of God: May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May your day end with rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you. May you rest in his provision as he brings night, and then new dawn. ","author_name":"Wilderness Wanderings","author_url":"http:\/\/www.immanuelministries.ca\/","html":"