The Faith of a Centurion

In Matt. 8 A Roman Centurion, A Gentile, in complete humility, compassion and full of faith comes to Jesus with an unusual request.  What interests me most here is the Centurion’s amazing lens of God and His power. He doesn’t come questioning who Jesus is; he doesn’t try to justify himself or express any entitlement. He simply asks in faith out of a deep love for his servant. The Centurion's servant was suffering at home, cast down, paralyzed, fearfully tormented. (Vs.6).

I don’t know about you but, fear for me is very paralyzing, very numbing; it can literally throw you down and keep you pinned to the lowest point of your life. Fear of rejection, failure, loss, and many other life restrictors are the devil's best weapons of oppression upon people, Christian, Jewish and otherwise. Through the years I have had intense battles with fear, insecurity, and a sense of failure with no concept of any light at the end of the tunnel.

On his own the servant could not be healed, he is paralyzed physically, spiritually and emotionally. He would not have the mindset, the wherewithal that would enable him to seek help nor know how to receive what was offered. It took the faith of his master, his boss to present the need to the Lord. The heart and faith of the centurion marveled Jesus. Can you imagine marveling the Lord?  How amazing would it be to amaze the one who exudes the word to the infinite power. The depth of passion of the centurion and his immense belief in the unlimited power of God partnered with the compassion of Jesus goes beyond the concept of our natural consumerist everyday life.  Jesus could have been, "oh another sick person, yes I guess I can be bothered, ok I will heal him". Notice that His prayer wasn't a long, loud and demonstrative packed with all the "deep" Christian phrases or "Pentecostal" fire, but simply, "go, it has been done as you have believe". God is more impressed with our heart then He is with our words.

If you are in anything like me, your lens of God needs reshaping, a deep cleaning and a changed in perspective. I need a renewed mind because what often fires inside my brain is so far from the mark that Christ has set for me that I get lost in a world of demonic delusion. You may also struggle with various fears, weak thoughts, limited God concepts and life realities, so get reacquainted with the God of power, who gives us a sound mind. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of love, power and a sound mind”. 2Tim. 1:7.

Lord there are things that I fear, there are things that I am very numb to, I ask for the passion and ability to be marveled, and to marvel. Please give me a heart full of love and compassion to be able to bring healing in the everyday to all who come my way.

“Oh, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! Romans 11:33 NASB