Matthew 8:8 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.
“‘What-ifs’ all you need is a promise, a verse or just a word for the miracle.”
The Centurion was a Roman officer who was a commander of a century (100 soldiers). The land of Israel was swamped by the Roman regiment. The policies legislated in Rome were executed by the brigades stationed in Israel. When the delegates are commissioned to serve in a foreign land, they had servants or slaves who accompany them during the duration of their service. Such slaves became like the extended family of the envoy. This army officer who heard about Jesus, came to seek His help to heal his favorite servant. Jesus offered to accompany the centurion to his house to perform the miracle but the centurion amazed Jesus with his reply. The centurion said, just say the word, and my servant will be healed. All that the centurion needed was a word or a command. Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” (Matthew 8:13). As soon as the command was released from the mouth of Jesus, the servant was healed.
The non-Jewish gentile officer understood the authority and supremacy behind the commands of Jesus. Those who accompanied him would have struggled with the ‘what-if’ questions – ‘what-if’ the servant was not healed’? However, the centurion was confident that all he needed was a word from Jesus.
What-if all that you need is one promise, one command, or one word? Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21).
Three lessons from the faith of the centurion:
- Miracle: ‘What-if’ all we need is a word, verse, or a command from the Lord for our miracle? God’s word is packed with miracles. His promises are pregnant with surprises. We don’t need a touch from a prophet, we only need a word, verse, or a promise from God to overcome the indomitable giant of sickness, sorrow, or stifle. It is His Word that unfurls the miracles from the spiritual to the natural.
- Mitigate: ‘What-if’ all we need is our divine intercessor to mitigate our pain or the pandemonium? Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Romans 8:34). We don’t need the support of friends and followers to defeat the surging smirks and slanders; all we need is our divine mitigator, Jesus, to arbitrate for us.
- Measure: ‘What-if’ all we need is a mustard seed of faith to break the barrier? Jesus defined the faith of this pagan professional as “Great Faith”. “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith (Matthew 8:10). “God will not reward fruitfulness, he will reward faithfulness.” – Billy Graham. God measures our faith by the trust that we place on His word.
‘What-if’ all we need to do is trust Him like little children.
Psalm 138:2b for you have exalted your name and your word above everything.
Prayer: God of Heaven and Earth, I will hold onto your word and the promises and leap over the mountain and step over the valleys. Amen.
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