Matthew 8:8-13
A Roman military officer, the centurion, came to Jesus on behalf of his suffering servant. As we look at this account, it's important to remember that the Jews (to whom Matthew was writing) looked down on and even hated the Romans, particularly the military officers because they oppressed and misused them. As a whole, the Jews were proud of their heritage and religious traditions and thought that their good works would gain heaven for them.
The centurion showed humility and simple faith in Jesus. This man understood that this is what Jesus requires while the pompous Jews could not accept Jesus or His teachings. They would miss heaven because they would not believe in and trust Jesus. This simple story teaches us that Jesus opened up salvation to everyone who would believe--"many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." No one can be saved by the circumstances of their birth or by their keeping religious traditions. Each individual much accept or reject the Good News. That Good News is that Jesus came to bear the penalty for our sins. Individual people can accept or reject this gift that He offers. The centurion chose the accept it!
Psalm 90:1,2
This psalm shows God's eternal nature as contrasted with man's frailty. It was written by Moses.
These first 2 verses show us in beautiful poetry that God always was and always will be. Somehow I think that eternity past is more incomprehensible that eternity future. Doesn't it seem that surely God MUST have had a beginning? I guess the truth that He has always been goes to show us that He is God, and we are not! There are supernatural truths found in His Word that are beyond our human experience, and eternity is one of those things.
"Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."
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