Psalms 111:2

God’s works reveal God to us. As we seek out, inquire of, investigate, and carefully study God’s works we will come to rejoice in the glory of God. Such study can never be merely academic. Rather, it is like the investigation of an archeologist who is compelled and captivated by solving an ancient mystery. It is like Indiana Jones risking all to lay hold of a golden treasure. Careful inquiry into the works of God is a doorway to beholding the awesome glory and beautiful wonders of God Himself. God’s works exist for this very reason, to make known His power, His righteousness, His grace, His compassion, His holiness, His justice and His truth. As we examine His works we come to discover Him, and O what an overwhelming delight, to discover the living God!

The range of God’s works is astounding. Everything that exists is a result of God working. He displays Himself both in small works, like providing food for those who needed to it, to great works like establishing and removing nations, and redeeming mankind on the cross. If my eyes are open, I can observe God’s works all around me every day, for the heavens continually declare His works (Psalm 19:1). Therefore I can study God’s wonders by observing both ordinary things, and by contemplating great things. Ordinary things, like how my wife’s chickens move me to feed them by their persistent pecking at the basement window. When I consider such a small thing, viewing it as a work of God, God reveals to me how much more He is inclined to feed me, especially as I peck at His window persistently declaring my hunger for Him. And great things – like how the glorious day of Lord will be a day of unprecedented violence, as the armies of the Lord overrun the wicked thus displaying His soul-shattering, heart-stopping works of justice.

Splendid and majestic are His works; Holy and awesome is His name.

Father, open my eyes to your works. Cause me to delight in studying them because as I examine them carefully, I see you more clearly. Let my mind inform my heart of all your wonders and let my heart rejoice and praise your name forever. Amen.

Jesus upon hearing of John’s death was saddened. He felt so sad that he had to get away by himself and be alone. Who knows what he felt, and how he prayed while on the boat. Certainly, his own fast-approaching death must have weighed heavily on his heart. His emotions were apparently so strong he had to withdraw for a time. Yet, what takes place next shows that rather than his sorrow leading to self-pity, it led to compassion. I have such a hard time understanding how sorrow can exist without self-pity. Praise God that Jesus is perfect and was able to experience sorrow without sin or self-pity!

When Jesus returns to shore he is not irritated, annoyed, or angry that the multitudes clamored after him. Had self-pity been resident in his heart, like it would be in mine, his response would have been resentment rather than compassion. Instead His response to the needy multitude was compassion. This is astounding to me. Here at a low point emotionally, with massive neediness foisted upon Him, He responded with heartfelt compassion! What a man! How merciful, loving, and strong is my Lord Jesus!

Could it be that sorrow, when filtered and comforted by the grace of God, is among the chief means by which God produces true compassion in the heart of his saints? 2 Corinthians 6:10 says that Paul was and his companions were “sorrowful yet always rejoicing.” I must confess that I have not very often had this experience. For me lack of pain equals more rejoicing and felt sorrow equals despondency. Not so for Jesus, and perhaps, if by grace He changes my heart, not so for me.

O Lord, please change my heart. I don’t want to be morose, yet I do want to feel the way I ought to feel with regard to sorrow, yet always be rejoicing in you. Perhaps, that I might be a vessel through which the God of all comfort can strengthen the faith of his saints that they might rejoice more deeply in the glory of God, and in the excellence of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I want to have great faith in Jesus. There are, at least, five aspects of the centurion’s faith that can be observed in this passage, and that, by the grace of God, can be emulated.


1. The centurion had faith in God’s power. He knew that God could heal his servant.

2. The centurion was humbled in view of the grandeur of God. While the centurion was himself a man of stature, having a high position, respect, and even earning the recommendation of the Jewish elders, he was entirely humble before God. He did not count himself worthy to come to Jesus or have Jesus come to his home. (The Pharisees had no such inhibitions.)

3. The centurion had faith in the authority of the word of God. “Just say the word.” That’s all that needed to be done. O, that I would have this kind of faith, for God has said so many words, promises, and declarations. The centurion was hoping that a healing word would be granted, but how many things God has already said! Great faith believes that the words God says have authority.

4. The centurion asked. He believed God was powerful and had authority, and he was humble before God. It is very possible for all these aspects of faith to be operative, yet fail to be great faith because we fail to ask God for things. It is possible for a view of God’s greatness, and a proper view of our nothingness, to result in our not asking God for things. But the centurion had faith in God’s greatness, power, and in His immanence. God was present, close, and caring. It occurred to the centurion that this great God of ultimate authority would care about the servant of a Gentile who was in pain. The humble centurion asked the living God to help his servant.

5. The centurion was compassionate. I put this down last even though it is really the first thing that can be observed in this passage. This is because the other aspects have God in view and this, I believe, is a result of the centurion’s faith, rather than the object of his faith. In other words, it was his view of God’s greatness, power, grandeur, authority, and immanence that characterized the faith itself. The fact that he had this kind of faith is then observed to have a certain result or effect on the centurion’s character. It causes the centurion to be compassionate. He cares about his sick, suffering servant. He pleads for God’s help on his servant’s behalf. This compassion is a fruit of the great faith he has in God’s power, authority, and immanence.

Lord Jesus, please increase my faith. O God, open my eyes to your great power. Give me a rock solid confidence in the authority of your word. Break me and make me humble, contrite, and lowly before your presence. Grant me a faith that lays hold of your daily, personal, and intimate involvement in every area of my life, and let faith bear fruit in my life, making me like Jesus – compassionate, caring, loving, gentle, and full of joy in God.