Just say the word . . .

I think a great deal about what makes one person readily believe and trust in Christ when others take years or never come to Christ. And why some believers' prayers are answered and others aren't. My own story is one of hearing and knowing Him at a young age but never 'fully' trusting Him. When I think, "We may never fully trust Him in this lifetime", I consider the story of the Centurion in Luke 7. This guy is an army soldier and had a servant, actually a slave, who was sick & dying, but very valued by the Centurion. The story goes like this:

¹When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.²There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. ³The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. ⁴When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, ⁵because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." ⁶So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. ⁷That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.⁸For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." ⁹When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." ¹⁰Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Some observations:

• Centurion was a strong army officer with charge over an army of men.
• Centurion was so humble that he didn't feel worthy that Jesus come to his home.
• In contrast, the Jewish elders begged Jesus saying the Centurion was worthy.
• Centurion was not Jewish, but loved Capernaum and clearly sought the God of Israel.
• Centurion built the Jewish synagogue at his own expense.
• His faith led him to believe that Jesus could just say the word.
• He understood Jesus' power over illness and at a distance no less.
• He appears to have had a full understanding of who Jesus was.

Amazingly, after maybe a year of walking with Christ, the disciples still hadn't figured that last one out. After He calms the waters, they're like, "Who is this?"

I still don't know why this guy had so much faith seemingly so easy! Or which came first, his faith or obedience. But this story says so much to me about Jesus' power and our limited faith. According to scripture, He delegates power according to our faith. Father, please give us the desire to seek You with all our hearts and approach You with the boldness, faith and humility of this Centurion. Amen!