My wife and I had been praying for nearly two years about making a move, but God remained silent. However, on a lark, one day we drove to our hometown to look at a house we found online, just for fun.
That house wasn’t “it,” but our realtor told us about a house that was empty and just about to be listed. We looked. We liked. We prayed. We bought. In all our years of marriage, this had never happened so fast. God had prepared the way and then put us “on the spot” to make a decision. Any delay would have changed our future.
We see a similar example when Jesus spoke with the centurion. The passage is found in Matthew 8:5-8,10 (NIV). See if you catch a surprising truth:
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.
6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
…
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
Did you catch it? What a surprising question from Jesus, “Shall I come and heal him?” Jesus asked a question that required an immediate answer. And, an immediate answer the centurion gave: “just say the word.”
I can imagine angels in heaven shouted their joy. More importantly, Jesus rejoiced because of the centurion’s faith in Him.
Jesus fulfilled the centurion’s request and Jesus also publicly honored the centurion plus this event has been passed down in Scripture for over 2,000 years.
Usually, when Christians need to make important decisions we pray, perhaps fast, seek counsel from our pastors or elders, and, in the wisdom of God, make the decisions. However, if the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart or mine, then we must be ready to hear and act, sometimes instantly. We must be prepared.
As that old hymn says, “To be happy in Jesus, we must trust and obey.” This means we build a life that is active in the opportunities Jesus gives us and to be ready should God suddenly call us away to new works.