A JOURNEY OF FAITH
Opening Prayer
Lord, I rejoice in You, the Lord of all my years. Thank You for this new day.
Read Luke 7:1–10
The Faith of the Centurion
7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.
He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Jesus was amazed at the simple yet deep faith of the centurion. How is this an example to us?Recently I got into trouble with a friend because I hadn’t told her of a situation I was in. When I finally revealed my problem she simply said: “But I could have prayed.” She is the kind of friend everyone needs—one who will plead with God for us, especially when we struggle to find the faith to do it for ourselves. These are the kind of friends the centurion had, who went on his behalf to seek Jesus.
What a powerful person the centurion was—but he certainly did not abuse his position. And he had a generous faith which enabled him to ask confidently for healing for his servant (7). The Jewish elders who come to Jesus on behalf of the centurion talk about the things he has done for God, and how he deserves to have his prayers answered (5). But it is his faith that Jesus focuses on (9). And if anything, this gets stronger as he waits for an answer.
Why do we sometimes hesitate to approach Jesus personally? Perhaps we don’t think we are important enough to have this kind of faith. Perhaps we think it is only for people like our church leaders.
Apply
Think back to a time in your life when you needed faith against all odds. Thank God for the people who stood by you. And for the outcome, whatever it was.
Closing prayer
Lord, I pray for faith like the centurion’s. May I serve You at all times, generously caring for others, with the courage to expect my prayers to be answered.
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