IBS 3 - MATTHEW 8:9-10

For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who followed Him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.

Matthew 8:9-10

Something that at first confused me but now makes sense is when the centurion says he’s under authority. I now understand that he is not only under himself but there are other people above him in authority. And so as much as he could tell one go and one come he had a higher person leading him. With Jesus it was the same, the beauty of His continual surrender to the Father. Every move He made and every step He took aligning to the Fathers perfect will. Always seeking Him in what He should do next and where He should go. It says He marveled at his faith. To believe that this Man that many did not believe was the Messiah could heal his servant. He believed in the power of God which through Christ they had seen. This man was able to understand. It reminds me of when Pastor mike was talking about how he relates to the clay. He understands it in a way unbeknownst to a lot of people because they don’t have that same kind of relationship with clay and pottery. The Faith the centurion had astonishes me, and at the same time sparks a desire in me. He knew he wasn’t under his own authority. He knew whether someone told him to go or come or stay or wait he would do it. The same way those under him would obey his commands. So often I find myself digging my feet into the dirt and not wanting to move when Christ has told me to go. When He tells me to come I go the other way, He tells me to stay and wait and it’s like my initial instinct is to run as fast as I can. I am so easily disobedient and careless in my yielding to the Father and His Spirit. I think Jesus marveled because He saw the complete willingness in that man to obey. 

Application - Today anytime God leads me to pray with someone, or talk to someone or even just sit with someone I will follow. And when I get back to the lodge I will write it down and share it with Emily.