Comments on: The faith of the centurion The key to faith is: live according to the things you say you believe. Confidence in our prayers comes from the way we live http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/06/17/the-faith-of-the-centurion-the-key-to-faith-is-live-according-to-the-things-you-say-you-believe-confidence-in-our-prayers-comes-from-the-way-we-live/ McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections Fri, 24 May 2013 18:49:13 +0000 hourly 1 By: Deborah http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/06/17/the-faith-of-the-centurion-the-key-to-faith-is-live-according-to-the-things-you-say-you-believe-confidence-in-our-prayers-comes-from-the-way-we-live/comment-page-1/#comment-3737 Deborah Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:18:15 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=2313#comment-3737 Father, Bless,   It seems the opposite of what we, by instinct,do.  Faith is the ability to see things that we cannot see by ordinary means.  When given a command to do something, my instinctive reaction is to ask why?  I want to <em>see</em> where I am putting my foot next.  I want to understand <em>why</em> I am being told to step there.  Makes sense, does it not?    In my sinful weakness I have inadvertently raised my children (who are really no longer children but teens) to think in this same 'logical' and 'reasonable' way.  They love me and they say they trust me yet, not always, but too often, they want to know why they are being told to do something, why they should do it.  I have taught them well. :(   What they do not understand and what I have come to understand so late in life, is that obedience must <em>always</em> come first in order for faith and understanding to be given.  I may not always come to understand, in this life, why things happen the way they do, but if I obey  I will find that I receive the vision to see that what happens is right and that my obedience and submission to what is happening is right, as well.   As you have pointed out, Father, this centurions faith, his ability to 'see' the Lord's authority, to see that which had not yet happened, stemmed from his life of obedience---obedience to those in authority over him, obedience to God.  This life of obedience had given him the experience of seeing, sometimes with understanding, sometimes without, that obedience to God and the authorities He has placed over us leads to life and disobedience to punishment.  This ability to see things as they are, <em>his faith</em>, had grown to the point that he was able to recognize Power and Authority when he saw it.  He was able to recognize the Lord  and had the faith that the Lord could heal with His authoritative word, alone.    First comes obedience, then comes faith. Faith leads us (sometimes slowly) to Truth and understanding. Father, Bless,
 
It seems the opposite of what we, by instinct,do.  Faith is the ability to see things that we cannot see by ordinary means.  When given a command to do something, my instinctive reaction is to ask why?  I want to see where I am putting my foot next.  I want to understand why I am being told to step there.  Makes sense, does it not? 
 
In my sinful weakness I have inadvertently raised my children (who are really no longer children but teens) to think in this same 'logical' and 'reasonable' way.  They love me and they say they trust me yet, not always, but too often, they want to know why they are being told to do something, why they should do it.  I have taught them well. :(
 
What they do not understand and what I have come to understand so late in life, is that obedience must always come first in order for faith and understanding to be given.  I may not always come to understand, in this life, why things happen the way they do, but if I obey  I will find that I receive the vision to see that what happens is right and that my obedience and submission to what is happening is right, as well.
 
As you have pointed out, Father, this centurions faith, his ability to 'see' the Lord's authority, to see that which had not yet happened, stemmed from his life of obedience—obedience to those in authority over him, obedience to God.  This life of obedience had given him the experience of seeing, sometimes with understanding, sometimes without, that obedience to God and the authorities He has placed over us leads to life and disobedience to punishment.  This ability to see things as they are, his faith, had grown to the point that he was able to recognize Power and Authority when he saw it.  He was able to recognize the Lord  and had the faith that the Lord could heal with His authoritative word, alone. 
 

First comes obedience, then comes faith. Faith leads us (sometimes slowly) to Truth and understanding.

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