Faith Comes First

The next time you have the chance, read through the gospels in your Bible, paying close attention to the miracles. Something caught my attention the other day while reading through the book of Matthew.

The woman with the issue of blood was healed when she touched the hem of Christ's garment.  Why did she do that?  Jesus answers that question when he says, "Thy faith hath made thee whole."  She believed that just touching Him could heal her.

The paralytic was healed when his four friends, believing that Jesus could heal him, let him down through the roof.

The ten lepers were healed only after they followed Christ's command to go and shew themselves to the priest.  They took a huge risk by going into the city.  Because of the laws concerning lepers,  they could have been stoned going there in their condition.  However, they obeyed in faith, and along the way they were healed.

The Syrophenician woman's daughter was healed when she approached Jesus and requested that He heal her.  Jesus paid her a great compliment by saying, "O woman, great is thy faith:  be it unto thee even as thou wilt."

The centurion (yes, a Roman centurion) came to Jesus asking for healing for his servant.  Listen to what Jesus says about him:  "Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."  Wow!

Do you see what these miracles (along with  many others) have in common?  They didn't occur until after the faith was displayed.  Each person came to Him, believing that He could do what they asked of Him.  Do we do the same?  Could it be that you've been asking God for a miracle, but are disappointed time and time again when it doesn't come?  It may be that what you're asking for is not part of God's will for your life.  Or it may be that He's waiting for a little evidence of faith.  I think how we approach the Lord makes a big difference in how our requests are handled.

Without faith it is impossible to please God. - Hebrews 11:6