Verse: Matthew 8:9-10
9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.”
Devotion:
These verses are a continuation of the passage from yesterday. We’re picking back up in the story when Jesus is continuing His ministry on earth. He encountered a Roman centurion who came to Him, seeking help for his paralyzed servant. The centurion had great faith in Jesus’ ability to heal, believing that all Jesus needed to do was speak the word and his servant would be healed.
In response to the centurion’s faith, Jesus marveled at him and said, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” This centurion, a Gentile, displayed a level of faith that even Jesus Himself had not seen among the Israelites.
Honestly, this passage hits me hard. It humbles me to spend time in honest reflection about my faith. I know I say I have faith, but do I act like this Gentile? Do I act like I know Jesus can change everything with just the command from His voice? The truth is, not always. I know His power logically, but it’s so easy to be lured into wanting to be in control and doing things my way instead of relying on His power.
This is a sweet reminder to us that faith knows no boundaries. It is not limited by nationality, social status, or religious background. Jesus is not limited to our broken world. He is not limited to our small view of the world. He’s not limited to our imagination. The centurion’s faith in Jesus transcended any barriers that may have existed between them, and Jesus honored that faith by granting His request.
As followers of Christ, we are called to have the same kind of faith that the centurion had. Jesus wants to intervene in our lives the same way. He wants us to call on Him the same exact way. He wants us to trust Him to show up and do abundantly more than we could ever imagine. He wants us to have the earth shattering faith that believes in the power and authority of Jesus to heal, restore, and bring about miracles in our lives.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to be inspired by the centurion’s example. Empower me to approach You with boldness and unwavering faith, knowing that You are able to do far more than I could ever imagine. Help me to trust in Your goodness and sovereignty, believing that nothing is impossible for You. Let this knowledge guide my steps, trusting You to walk beside me each day. Lord, we pray this faith will bring You glory, that we may be a witness to Your limitless power and love at work in our lives. We love you Lord. Amen
Author: Becca Artymenko
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