21 Day Challenge – Day 11
The Centurion | Zack DeBerry
Scripture: Luke 7:1-10 (NLT)
When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people, he returned to Capernaum. At that time the highly valued slave of a Roman officer was sick and near death. When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. âIf anyone deserves your help, he does, they said, for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us. So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, Go, and they go, or Come, and they come. And if I say to my slaves, Do this, they do it. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, âI tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed.
Observation
A Roman centurion hears of Jesus and sends for Him to heal his slave who is very sick. Jesus is on His way when the centurion sends word to Him not to come all the way to his house because he isn’t worthy to receive the Lord; instead he asks Jesus to just say the word and his slave will be healed. He recognizes Jesus has such great authority He doesn’t have to be present to heal the slave. Jesus tells the crowds this faith has not been seen in Israel, and the slave is healed.
Application
How great is my faith in Jesus? When He seems distant, do I still believe He is watching over me and working in the background? Or do I begin to fear He’s forgotten me? My faith should be so great that any doubt can be easily put out of my mind.
Prayer
Lord, I believe that You can do anything. There are moments when I wonder if You hear my prayers and if You’ll ever answer them, but I know that You are at work in my life even when I don’t know what You’re doing. I trust that You know what’s best, and that the prayers I pray will be answered at the appropriate time. Thank You for always taking care of me.
In Christ Jesus I pray, Amen.