Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
May 2, 2022
Read Matthew 8:5-13
5 When Jesus went to Capernaum, a centurion approached, 6 pleading with him, “Lord, my servant is flat on his back at home, paralyzed, and his suffering is awful.” 7 Jesus responded, “I’ll come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I don’t deserve to have you come under my roof. Just say the word and my servant will be healed. 9 I’m a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and the servant does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was impressed and said to the people following him, “I say to you with all seriousness that even in Israel I haven’t found faith like this. 11 I say to you that there are many who will come from east and west and sit down to eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom will be thrown outside into the darkness. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.” 13 Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it will be done for you just as you have believed.” And his servant was healed that very moment.
Good Morning, Jesus is listening and wants to hear from us!
The love of Jesus transcends time and space. Through Christ, God is with us everywhere we go, every moment of every day. For those who believe, as the centurion does in this passage, this is life-transforming. When I look at the stars each evening and each morning, I gaze in awe at the handiwork of our Creator. Evidence of God is all around us for those who seek to see.
It is challenging to imagine having the unwavering faith of the centurion. He had no doubt that Jesus could do as he asked. Most of us, maybe because we have been worn down by our own cynicism, are less sure when we pray and petition God. Do you ever find yourself praying because that is what you’re supposed to do?
God hears and answers our prayers in unimaginable ways. Sometimes we don’t even understand or recognize the answers that we receive until much later when suddenly we become aware of God’s infinite wisdom. When we pray, we should expect God’s answers, but we must realize that His answers may differ from our human understanding. God promises through the death and resurrection of Jesus to be with us always in all that we do. Praise God!
Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. Help us remember to listen for your voice, so that we may see. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: There is no distance in prayer.
Believe when you pray! Pastor Liz
Comentarios