The Secret of Great Faith

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you. James 4:10

There are only two instances in Scripture in which Jesus is so amazed by an individual’s faith that he describes it as "great faith." The first is a boyhood hero of mine, the Roman centurion in Matthew 8:5-13. I have read these verses many times, but it was only recently that the secret to his great faith was revealed to me. Not only was he an experienced man of authority, he also knew the secret to its blessings. In asking Jesus to heal his servant, he acknowledged Jesus’ authority and humbled himself before the Lord. Humility is not a trait you would expect from a man of his stature, but as James explains, “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) This is the secret of great faith. The second instance that Jesus remarked on is found in the story of the Canaanite woman as told in Matthew 15:21-28. After repeatedly asking Jesus to heal her daughter, the disciples grew tired of her persistence and asked Jesus to send her away. Jesus responded by telling her that he was sent to feed the Israelites, not the Gentile “dogs” like herself. Rather than taking offense, she humbled herself answering that, "even the dogs feed on the crumbs that fall from their master’s table." Her great faith pleased Jesus. Although both the centurion and the Canaanite woman were Gentiles unworthy of Jesus' favor, they had faith that He would bless them. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday today, let's follow their examples by humbly seeking Jesus knowing that, as we rest in His finished work, God's grace is sufficient for us! (2 Corinthians 12:9) Grace to you, Steve