I am attempting to read through the entire Bible this year. I tried to read through all 66 books before and failed. My desire to hear a fresh word from the Lord is what prompted me to try this again. I am hoping to fill blank journals with new insights by years’ end. My reading and reflection time will not end once I’ve answered a set amount of study questions in a workbook, or once I finish reading a page in a devotional book. Hopefully my time will end when the Holy Spirit finishes speaking to me. (But truthfully, it may end once my children wake up and climb into bed with me, right?)
image courtesy of Justin Knight/creationswap
The 66 in 1 series
Whenever a certain word or passage jumps off the page of Scripture, or causes my heart to do cartwheels, I will share it with you here as part of a new series called “66 in 1.” (Named after my attempt to read all 66 books of the Bible in 1 year. Deep huh?)
For example, Sunday’s reading focused on Matthew chapters 7-9. The word “marveled” in the verses below caught my attention:
“When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, ‘Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.’ And he said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the centurion replied, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 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 8:10 ESV, emphasis mine
A gentile centurion approached Jesus in Capernaum and asked Jesus to heal his servant. According to one commentary, an ill servant could be killed by their master. This centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant instead. Added to his compassion was his understanding and respect for authority- Jesus’ authority. The centurion knew that Jesus did not need to travel to his home to heal the servant. He believed the words of Jesus were powerful enough to heal his servant.
When Jesus heard this, He did not laugh at him, argue with him, or rebuke him.
Jesus marveled.
I LOVE it.
Accounts of people marveling at the teachings and miracles of Jesus are found throughout the New Testament (for example, see Matthew 8:27). Here, we see that someone else is doing the “marveling.”
God in the flesh marveling at the faith of a man made in His own image. How awesome is this?
Here is my prayer for us:
Father God, we thank you for the depth and perfection of Scripture. We thank you for using one word from it to challenge us. We ask Holy Spirit that you would deepen our compassion for those around us, and deepen our respect for the authority of Jesus Christ over and in our lives. Help us to trust and believe that if Jesus speaks something over our life, it will happen. Though we cannot physically see or touch Jesus, we know that His Word is powerful enough. Give us faith that marvels your Son, Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.
Are you doing a similar “66 in 1” challenge? Then send me an email explaining what word, verse, or passage challenged or encouraged you and what God showed you through it. You do not have to be an expert writer or Biblical scholar to participate. Simply, be YOU and share what God has taught YOU. Please keep your submission to under/around 500 words, and note that I reserve the right to make minor grammatical edits to your submission and that I will not publish anything that is offensive or divisive.
