Monday 28 Nov 2022

November 28: Matthew 8:5-11

Key Verse: 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.

Devotion:
There are some parables in our bibles which are both simple and short but offer a very deep insight into faith and belief. This is one of them and is told in a few places by the disciples. I like Matthews account because he records the Lord as asking the centurion if he wants Him to come and visit the servant (knowing full well what the answer is going to be anyway.)

I have shown how we often have to ask multiple times in prayer, not so God will eventually hear us, but so we understand it is our asking which God answers – asking which is in earnest, humble and repetitive. God wants us to understand it is our faith which will move mountains and not just a single prayer thrown up to get something we want at the time!

This is along the same lines because Jesus is showing the centurion it is his own faith which is going to get the servant healed and not the fact he is a centurion, Jew or whatever! This prayer is being answered because the centurion showed absolute faith in Christ. He knew whatever Jesus commanded would get done because that is what he was used to as well – being a centurion in the Roman army!

Don’t base your faith on what people have said before you. Don’t base it on what others tell you to do. Base your faith squarely on Christ being the cornerstone of your life; the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the “I am” and with whom nothing is impossible. Trust Christ to do what He has said He would do!

Points to Ponder:
Do you give Christ the authority?

Will you show more faith by giving Christ authority?