When was the last time you impressed God?

You remember the story. Jesus went about doing good, and came home to Capernaum to do good there, too.

When Jesus entered the city, a centurion came to Him, asking for help. The centurion was a Gentile, a Roman, an officer of the army and someone familiar with rank and file. He understood authority.

The centurion appealed to Jesus above other known possible means:

“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”

Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.”

As the centurion recognized God’s grace, a humble man became more humble. The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”

This man’s genuine faith amazed Jesus! This hated Gentile’s faith put to shame the stagnant piety of many of the Jewish religious leaders.

To the gracious He will show Himself gracious:
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour. – Matthew 8:5-13

Christ admired the centurion, not for his greatness, wealth, position or power, but for his faith. It was not surprising to Jesus – He knew the centurion’s faith for He made the man and provided the grace; but it was rare and uncommon, and Christ spoke of it as wonderful. He taught us what is lovely and worthy of admiration – the beauty of holiness. The rich in faith are the ones that impress Him.

Are you impressing God in your family, faith, and place of business?

Grow in grace and truth.