Listen

Jesus went with them. He had almost reached the house when the centurion sent friends to say to Jesus, “Lord, don’t be bothered. I don’t deserve to have you come under my roof. In fact, I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to you. Just say the word and my servant will be healed. I’m also a man appointed under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and the servant does it.”

When Jesus heard these words, he was impressed with the centurion. He turned to the crowd following him and said, “I tell you, even in Israel I haven’t found faith like this.” When the centurion’s friends returned to his house, they found the servant restored to health.

Luke 7:6-10

Think

It’s hard to imagine someone not wanting Jesus to come in their house. At least for me. And I’m just as perplexed that Jesus honors the request. Isn’t this the same guy who invites himself to Zacchaeus’s house for dinner right after meeting him? What’s going on here? This story reveals a different side of faith and a different side of Jesus.

The centurion seems to know Jesus’ power through his own power. He has authority over others, so he understands Jesus’ heavenly authority. He knows that he can command things to happen in his world, so he easily trusts that Jesus can do the same. They’ve never met face to face but the centurion “gets” Jesus in a way that most do not.

How might your understanding of yourself better your understanding of God? What power and influence do you have? Where does that power come from? How much greater is God’s power? And how might you trust it more fully and completely?

Chad Senuta

Pray

God, I may not be a soldier, but I do have authority in some areas. Help me to use it rightly and justly. And help me to trust your power and authority in my life. Amen.

Go

Go in safety, for you cannot go where God is not.

Go in love, for love alone endures.

And go in peace, for that is God’s gift to those who are in Christ Jesus.