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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise When Jesus saw the widow from Nain, he felt compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” I praise you today as the God of compassion. You understand my pain and sympathize with my weaknesses. When I was dead in sin, you touched my life with your mighty hand and said to my dead spirit, “Arise!” Hallelujah to the Son of God, who came to seek and to save those who are lost! Today in Your Word Today you told me about a centurion’s faith, a widow’s son, a prisoner’s doubt and a Savior’s rebuke. When Jesus “marveled” at the “great faith” of the centurion, he was amazed by the quality of the man’s faith, not the quantity. Many people believed Jesus could heal, but the centurion not only believed, he reasoned correctly about the implications of Jesus’ power. He recognized that when Jesus spoke, it was with your power and authority. That meant Jesus didn’t need to come to his house. Jesus could simply say the word and his slave would be healed. This teaches me that “great” faith reasons correctly and draws necessary inferences from what you have said. John the Baptist struggled with doubt while he was in prison. His doubt came from the fact that Jesus’ ministry did not meet his expectations (cf. Matt 3:10). Jesus responded by telling John that the Scriptures concerning the Messiah were being fulfilled, for healing and salvation must precede judgment (cf. Isa 61:1–2). This teaches me the importance of keeping my expectations grounded in your Word. The remedy for doubt is to soak myself in Scripture. I must allow what you have said to permeate my mind and transform my thinking. After John’s disciples left, Jesus told the crowds that John was the messenger who was spoken of by Malachi (“and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come”). John had gone before and prepared the way for the Messiah, and this honor marked him as the greatest prophet of the Old Covenant era. Yet the New Covenant which Christ inaugurated was greater than the old. This meant that the “one who is least in the kingdom of heaven” was greater than John because they were part of the messianic age that came after John’s death. This teaches me to appreciate the privileges and blessings that come from living in the last days. Jesus then denounced the cities in which most of his miracles were done because they did not repent. He told them that if Tyre, Sidon and Sodom had seen what he did in Chorazin, Capernaum and Bethsaida, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. This teaches me that although you don’t owe revelation to anyone, you always give enough grace for people to repent. Those who receive greater grace will also receive greater judgment, for you know what others would have done had they received such grace. Reflection Jesus repeatedly showed that he had the power to bring hope out of tragedy. Am I resting in your promise to work all things together for good, so that I may be conformed to the image of your Son? Request Father, help me to accept your grace and treasure your mercy. Reveal your Son to me more and more each day. May I come to know you in all your fullness! Thanksgiving Thank you for the invitation: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). How wonderful to serve a Savior who is gentle and lowly in heart! Praise the Lord! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “His Yoke Is Easy” — Daniel S. Warner. Meditation Verse: Matthew 11:30.