Matthew 8:1-13

Be Still: Lord, I come to you now amidst the noise and chaos of life. I lay down my day to you. Steady my breath and let my thoughts be only on you. Amen

Read: Matthew 8:1-13 

Jesus said to him, 'I will come and heal him.' 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…'

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.' (vv7-10)

Encounter:  Do you ever read or listen to extreme survival stories where people overcome harsh conditions, physical trials, and mental battles? The cynical part of us can respond – 'Yeah, right…I’ll believe it when I see it.'

The Roman Centurion is quite the opposite.

It’s rare in the Gospels to see Jesus amazed. He heals, teaches, forgives, even calms storms – but here, he’s amazed by something unexpected and extraordinary: a Roman soldier’s faith.

This centurion, although he was friends with the local Jewish elite and had built their synagogue (Luke 7), had not grown up knowing the Scriptures like them. Yet he, unlike them, understood something powerful — that Jesus’ word carried divine authority. He didn’t need Jesus to come and see the problem in person. He believed that one word from Jesus was enough to change everything. 

The watching Jews were shocked. The Roman centurion, their benefactor, believed that Jesus possessed the power to heal, restore and make new.

That’s bold, simple faith – trusting that what Jesus says, happens.

Most of us, if we’re honest, want some proof first. We say, 'God, if you'll just show me…' or 'If you fix this, then I’ll believe.' The centurion, however, believes first, even before seeing a thing.

Apply: Take time to consider these two questions:
Do I trust Jesus’ word even when I can’t yet see the results?
Am I trying to make him prove himself before I believe him?
Real faith doesn’t wait for evidence. This is a hard challenge. I, for one, need God to help me with this! The only evidence I need, to know who God is and what he is like, is by looking straight at Jesus – the One whose word carries power over sickness, fear, and even death.

Devote: Jesus, teach me to trust you the way that centurion did – simply, boldly, completely. Help me to believe your word even before I see the outcome. Strengthen my faith so that when you speak, I don’t doubt – I respond.