Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Master with Power” – Monday, 28 July 2014 - Scripture: Matthew 8:5-17

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Master with Power” – Monday, 28 July 2014 - Scripture: Matthew 8:5-6 As Jesus entered the village of Capernaum, a Roman captain came up in a panic and said, “Master, my servant is sick. He can’t walk. He’s in terrible pain.”
7 Jesus said, “I’ll come and heal him.”
8-9 “Oh, no,” said the captain. “I don’t want to put you to all that trouble. Just give the order and my servant will be fine. I’m a man who takes orders and gives orders. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes; to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10-12 Taken aback, Jesus said, “I’ve yet to come across this kind of simple trust in Israel, the very people who are supposed to know all about God and how he works. This man is the vanguard of many outsiders who will soon be coming from all directions—streaming in from the east, pouring in from the west, sitting down at God’s kingdom banquet alongside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then those who grew up ‘in the faith’ but had no faith will find themselves out in the cold, outsiders to grace and wondering what happened.”
13 Then Jesus turned to the captain and said, “Go. What you believed could happen has happened.” At that moment his servant became well.
14-15 By this time they were in front of Peter’s house. On entering, Jesus found Peter’s mother-in-law sick in bed, burning up with fever. He touched her hand and the fever was gone. No sooner was she up on her feet than she was fixing dinner for him.
16-17 That evening a lot of demon-afflicted people were brought to him. He relieved the inwardly tormented. He cured the bodily ill. He fulfilled Isaiah’s well-known sermon:
He took our illnesses,
He carried our diseases.
“Master with Power” by Evangeline Gardner
We rescued Zoe from the pound when she was four years old. Her puppy spirit was broken from neglect and abuse.
Over the next few weeks, I endeavored to earn her trust. I pampered her and petted her. When she whined at my feet, I filled her food and water dishes. When she did tricks, I rewarded her with treats.
As she learned that a firm but gentle word had consistent results, she began to obey commands. When I said, “Sit!” she sat. When I said, “Out!” she went out. She was content with knowing I had the power in our relationship.
May we seek to truly understand that the words Christ has spoken, and is still speaking; have incredible power in our lives. We can choose to believe that His commandments and His promises are both equally true.

In making God our Master, we decide to trust that He will constantly be working for our good. As He gives us faith to believe in His goodness, love, and power, we more readily listen to His voice and obey. We are a mysterious mixture of satisfied servant and cherished child.

Hymn for Today:

“Give of Your Best to the Master” by Howard B. Grose
1. Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example,
Dauntless was He, young and brave;
Give Him your loyal devotion;
Give Him the best that you have.
Refrain:
Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.
2. Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate ev'ry part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have.
Refrain:
Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.
3. Give of your best to the Master;
Naught else is worthy His love;
He gave Himself for your ransom,
Gave up His glory above;
Laid down His life without murmur,
You from sin’s ruin to save;
Give Him your heart’s adoration;
Give Him the best that you have.
Refrain:
Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.
Thought for Today:
“I said to myself, ‘Relax and rest.
    God has showered you with blessings.
    Soul, you’ve been rescued from death;
    Eye, you’ve been rescued from tears;
    And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling.’”(Psalm 116:7-8)
Prayer Needs:
Developing Christian leaders in Sao Tomo and Principe!
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