Marveled

 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.

— Mark 6:5-6 ESV

When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

— Luke 7:9 ESV

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

There are numerous instances in Scripture when people were amazed and marveled at you. There are only two times when you marveled at others. Once when you marveled at the Gentile Centurion's faith. And once again when you marveled at the unbelief of the Jews in your hometown of Nazareth. Faith and the lack of faith is what amazed you. Tremendous belief in you and complete unbelief in you, that is what caused you to marvel. Or, as one writer put it, "There are two things that make Jesus step back and say "Wow!" 1) Those who believe when it's not expected they would. 2) Those who disbelieve when there's every reason they should."

Lord, do you marvel at me? Are there times when you marvel because I am believing you when it's not expected that I would, or do you marvel at me because I disbelieve you when you've given me every reason that I should? I want to be one you marvel at for the right reason. I want to be one who believes when it makes little sense to do so. I want to cast off the predictability and familiarity that was present in Nazareth that caused so many there to have unbelief. I want to be like the Centurion who was among the unlikeliest to believe yet chose to place all his faith in you and thoroughly expected you to do what he knew only you could do.

Gracious Lord, heal my unbelief. May Your amazement of me be because I am choosing to believe You at Your word and trusting You to do what You have said. May my faith make You marvel.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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