Matt. 8:1-17

So we met with our small group last night.  They invited Jill and me to start coming a few weeks ago and we decided that since our lives aren't very busy (I hope you sense the sarcasm!) we would give it a try.  Our pastor has been preaching through the book of Matthew and in our small group we go through the section he is going to preach on this coming Sunday.  Matthew 8 comes right on the heels of the Sermon on the Mount.  When I read through Chapters 5-7 of Matthew I really come away with the feeling that following Jesus is about getting right in your heart.  It isn't about following some strict set of rules, it isn't about doing the right thing.  It is about seeing people as God sees them and doing things with the right intention.  It truly is a heart issue, a matter of motives.  It is about knowing God and being known by God.

Then in Chapter 8 we see three of examples of how this looks in real people.  It isn't about people who are doing all the right things that Jesus is impressed with.  It isn't people with a great reputation for being "holy".  It's a leprous man, a Roman Centurion, and Peter's mother-in-law.  I'll start out with the leper.  People typically thought this man had done some great sin or his parents did for him to get leprosy.  But Jesus was impressed with his faith.  I must admit, the man's request is pretty remarkable.  Not only did he demonstrate great faith when saying, "If you are willing, you can make me clean," but he also recognized that maybe God had a purpose in him having leprosy and he might not want him well.  I have to be honest, I do a terrible job of laying out my requests to God.  First off, I usually assume that God must want the same thing for me as I want.  I mean, why wouldn't he, right?  Maybe God has a little better vantage point from where he's sitting and I am supposed to be right where I am.  Secondly, I really have such small faith.  Half the time I'm praying I lack the faith that God can/will actually show up.  I guess that's pretty sad and shows where I'm at.  But what's the point of fooling myself?  The problem is I'm such a logical person that I struggle to accept the miraculous now.  I don't have a problem believing God did what he did in the past but I have a hard time accepting God doing miracles today, at least where I'm at.  I know I should have faith in this but it's tough.  Anyways, all this to say that I wish I had an ounce of the type of faith this leprous man had.
Now on the the Roman Centurion.  Obviously this occurred while the Romans were ruling over the Israelites.  The people of Israel did not look too favorable on the Romans and it would come as a shock to hear Jesus proclaim that this Roman had greater faith than anyone is Israel.  It would be a big slap in the face to his own people.  This guy probably doesn't follow the law, he probably doesn't practice the Sabbath or follow the ceremonies so how could Jesus say he had greater faith than anyone in Israel?  It's a matter of the heart.  He completely trusted Jesus and Jesus saw this.  I try to have this kind of faith.  The phrase, "fake it till you make it" really doesn't apply here.  I've been trying to fake it for years but it just doesn't seem to be working for me.  Don't get me wrong, I would say I've got a relationship with God, but my faith is pretty small.
The last thing that really stuck out to me in the section of Scripture is the reference to Isaiah 53:4-6 in verse 17.  In reading this passage I was really struck by the words used here.  He "took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."  The picture is not just of a God that forgives sins, but actually puts them on himself.  Too often I forget this as I go on sinning.  It actually has a COST.
What a great section of scripture that is truly inspiring.  I hope to develop this kind of wild faith; abandoning logic at times; not afraid of the uncomfortable.  This is my prayer.