The Roman Centurion

I had to stay off my feet for a few days. My knee was pounding with pain as I limped from room to room. As I sat stranded in front of the television and bore the discomfort, a homebound friend named John came to mind.

John always offered a warm smile whenever I visited him. Even on days filled with severe pain, he extended his hand to greet me. His witness to the power of faith and hope, which sustained him through many trials, inspired me and deepened my faith.

In Matthew 8, the Roman centurion begged Jesus to heal his servant. He showed remarkable concern for his servant. The centurion revealed to Jesus his great faith, trusting in his power and authority to heal, a power he knew came from God. His faith touched the heart of our Savior.

Jesus Christ wants us to hold tight to him with faith during our difficulties. He wants us to find hope in him, who cares about every hardship we bear. Our Savior hears us when we mourn and cry out in pain. We have the opportunity to receive the power of healing through faith in Christ.

Do we bring our worries to God with faith? Are we confident in our Lord’s power to help us, or have we allowed our faith to go weak?

Let the actions of the Roman centurion serve as a model for us, and let us come to Jesus with deep faith and humility: “I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof” (Matthew 8:8). Touch the heart of Jesus like the centurion certainly did by amazing him with our faith.

Lord, provide me with the grace I need to trust you completely. I do not want my faith to go weak. When faced with unexpected challenges, I pray that my faith and hope will amaze you. Amen.

Throughout This Day: Faith in God means trusting him no matter what lies ahead. Reflect on how you can deepen your confidence in the promises of our Savior no matter what happens today.