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 Daily Devotional {SAMPLE}

May 28, 2009

We are told in the New Testament book of Hebrews "..Without Faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is..."  It is easily deduced from this verse that Faith is foundational in our relationship with God - so getting more of it, and keeping what I already have is critical to my continued growth. 
 
Faith is not positive thinking.  Faith is not just repeating a desire over and over hoping that it will come true.  Faith is not a belief - Faith is a substance.  As atoms are the substance, or building blocks of physical matter, so Faith is the substance, or building blocks, of my relationship with God.  God does not need 'Faith' to exist, but we need Faith to believe He exists. 
 
In Jesus' dealings with the Centurion Christ exclaims "...I have not found such great Faith, not even in Israel."  What was the secret this man knew who had never been to a bible study, knew little or nothing of the Old Testament Laws, and had only been a "Christian" for a matter of moments, it is found in this simple statement - "For I also am a man under authority..." (Matt 8)
 
This Soldier lived under a chain-of-command.  At the top was Caesar, below him a general, then officers, and so on.  If Caesar wanted something done, he did not do it but simply issued a command.  Resources and authority were given with the command to assure the command was not only followed but fulfilled. 
 
Notice the Centurion did not say "I am a man of authority" but instead said, "I am a man under authority..." How many Christians are not able to grow because they themselves are not under authority.  Being under the right authority assures growth and provision.  In fact, the Greek word for submit used in the original New Testament writings is a military word that literally means "to line up under".  
 
Whose authority are you under?  Who do you answer to spiritually, on the job, in the home?  We often reject authority and accountability and when we do are Faith decreases and even dies!  Whose authority are you under, and who do you have under you?  This is important information to really fuel your Faith - more tomorrow!

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Pastor Darryl W Crain