Surely he was the Son of God!

Girlfriends, let's take a few minutes from our busy day to look to God's Word and let it shine on our hearts and provide nourishment for our souls, as we begin the new week. Matthew 27:54 "When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” We might think it amazing that the Roman guards, who had the responsibility of putting Jesus to death, didn't see who he was until they felt the rumble of the earthquake beneath their feet. Didn't they see how Jesus conducted himself during his scourging, hadn't they looked into his face and felt their souls exposed? Wasn't there something that made them think about what they were doing before the earthquake? Let's not be too quick to judge, sweet friends. How many of us have had to experience our own earthquake(s) in order to see Jesus as the Son of God? We are, by nature, a skeptical people and "slow to believe all the prophets have said..." Luke 24:25. But when calamity comes, we are brought to the place where we realize that we are not in control and, in that place, we may cry out to Jesus who "surely is the Son of God." This is not true only as we initially believe but as we continue to believe. We quickly forget or dismiss the thought that we are not in control and resort back to going about trying to save ourselves. Keep climbing: "Earthquakes" often serve a purpose in giving us the opportunity to see the Savior but let's determine in our hearts to live beyond "earthquake induced faith." May we lean in, during times of quiet blessing or in seasons of pain, and hear the gentle whisper of Jesus, "Come. Follow me."