Jesus always celebrated faith where he found it. Faith is the main thing that God wants to see in us. He isn’t looking for great ministry achievements and costly sacrifice; he is looking for faith. This is what pleases God. You might think that to please God you need to give away lots of money, or help a lot of people, or become a missionary, or tell lots of people about Jesus. These are all good works, but they are not what pleases God the most. What God most wants is your faith. Faith is a confident dependence on God. This is what we see here in Luke 7 in the centurion. This centurion did some great and pious things. He built a synagogue in Capernaum for the Jews. But it was not his sacrifice or moral piety that is celebrated by Jesus, it is his faith. When his servant became sick the centurion turned at once to Jesus in confident dependence. His confidence is expressed in his conviction that Jesus could do this for him. He didn’t want to bring trouble on Jesus by having him enter a Gentile house, but he was convinced that this was no obstacle. All Jesus had to do was “say the word, and my servant will be healed”. Jesus was delighted with this faith. God loves it when we walk forwards in his purpose knowing that he will provide what we need. He loves it when we face trials with unwavering confidence that nothing will thwart the purpose he has for us. Walk in the confidence of faith and you will please God.
How can you show faith in your present circumstances?
Read Luke 7:1-10
