DCLM Higher Everyday 11 August 2024 — The Centurion’s Faith
DCLM Higher Everyday 11 August 2024 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — The Centurion’s Faith
Topic: The Centurion’s Faith
Text — Matthew 8:5-13
5And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
11And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
13And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Key Verse: “When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Matthew 8:10).
Message
Centurions were commanders of 100 Roman soldiers. These men were assigned to various parts of the Roman Empire for various duties, including peace-keeping. Certainly, some of these men were employed for the purpose of executing people condemned to death for any misdeed or crime of which Jesus Christ was accused. Instead of harping on his own worthiness, he sought Jesus’ healing alone with all humility. We learn several truths about faith from this scripture: that to please God (1) we must have faith in Him, (2) we must believe that He exists, and (3) we must believe that He will answer us when we want to know Him or to get help from Him.
God expects His children to be people of extraordinary faith like the centurion who acknowledged Jesus as all-powerful. He knew that God had the power to speak things into being. The centurion’s great faith showed that he believed in Jesus and that He had the power to heal. The Roman centurion showed us that we can deal with any hard situation with faith in God.
Quote: We must have faith in Him
Challenge: Like the centurion, pray believing.
Prayer for today: Holy Father, increase my faith, in Jesus’ name.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
