Matthew 8
“When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. 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 those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.”
Matthew 8:5-13
Key thoughts:
The most amazing aspect of this story is not Jesus' power to heal, but the faith of the Roman officer who opened the door for Jesus' amazing work to happen. I would love to bless the Lord with my faith and my concern for others, especially in trying times. We get a glimpse of heaven in this scripture between Jesus and a Gentile and in his faith and genuine concern for others. Nationality, race, status, and position are all irrelevant. All that matters is Jesus, his love for you, his love for us, his love for me and our love for him. We will get to see him bless all kinds of people in incomparable ways. I can hardly wait ... But I will; I will wait so that I can show Jesus' concern for those broken, for those in need, in need to be mended.
Prayer:
Holy God, heavenly Father, please hear my prayer today. I pray that my faith in you, and my concern for others who need you, will open the door for you to do amazing & supernatural things. Search my heart, use my hands, stir my hope, and use me to help others because I believe you can do amazing things through a common person like me when I believe in you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.