Saturday, August 19, 2006
Luke 7:5-8 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. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For 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."
A CAPTAIN'S TRUST
The Centurion of this account got it. He understood who Jesus was and what that meant for Him, a believer. He trusted that Jesus had the power to heal his servant, so he asked Him to. He prayed. Those he sent to Jesus carried his prayer, and they humbly laid it before the Master's feet.
Jesus is alive today. He is powerful now. Jesus will not ignore the prayer of His followers. So pray in every situation. Jesus wants to hear the voice of our hearts calling to Him. He wants to supply us with what we need. He wants to help us.
No, we can't see Him with our eyes; neither could the Centurion. But we can trust Him with our hearts, just like the Centurion. That's the most important part of this account, the part that Jesus found most remarkable. Jesus was astonished by the trust of the Centurion.
Let's be like the Centurion. Let's trust in Jesus when we pray, knowing that our prayer is heard. Let's trust in Jesus when we pray, expecting it to be answered. Jesus suffered and died to buy us back. If He was willing to give us His life, we can know He will not withhold what we truly need.
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
(TLH 370)
