Matthew 8:5-10 “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”
Luke 12:48b “For unto whomever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”
God has blessed our land in a miraculous way throughout our history. We continue to stand as John Winthrop’s city on hill, attracting the eyes of all people. At his farewell speech on January 11, 1989, President Reagan shared the following:
“I’ve spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don’t know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That’s how I saw it, and see it still.”
God’s Word reminds us that much is required of those who have been given much. Thus, the Lord expects much from America and from American Christians. Yet, at the same time we have an exciting opportunity to demonstrate great faith that uniquely pleases Him. After all, Jesus singled out the faith of the centurion in Capernaum as a man who had been given much and still humbly yielded to the Saviour. The Lord marvelled at him because of his faith in the midst of his success, his prosperity and his power. From his position, overflowing with faith, this centurion leader could be a powerful shining city on a hill.
PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO HUMBLY YIELD TO THE LORD IN THE MIDST OF OUR SUCCESS, PROSPERITY, AND POWER. In doing so, may the Lord see us and say – I have not found so great faith.
