“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.”
Matthew 8:8 NIV
A Roman
centurion approached Jesus about his servant who remained “at home paralyzed
and in terrible suffering”. Christ replied, “I will go and heal him.” (Matthew
8:6-7) Then the centurion, ruler over 100 men, explained to Christ that he did
not deserve to have Christ even come under his roof. “But just say the word,”
he said “and my servant will be healed.”
Christ
responded by speaking to those following Him. “I tell you the truth, I have not
found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” Jesus instructed the centurion to “Go! It will
be done just as you believed it would.”
I can
picture that centurion running home, expecting to find his servant healed and maybe
a little confused. I imagine him recounting the story to his children and
grandchildren about how Jesus spoke and his servant was made whole, and I
wonder how many family members and friends believed in Christ because of the
centurion’s testimony.
I’m
reminded that, though we may not see Him with our physical eyes, Christ is as
accessible to us today as He was to that Roman centurion. All we have to do is speak
His name. He is Immanuel—God With Us. He is Jesus the One and Only.
Will we
always receive exactly what we ask of the Father through His Son? No! Will we
always see an immediate answer? No! Will we be able to name it and claim it?
No! But I can promise you this; God’s answer is always for our good. He wants
to draw near to you and me, and He wants us to draw near to Him. We do that
through His Son—Jesus.
He is waiting for
you right now. Just say the word!
© Joyce Powell
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