Three Truths from the Faith of the Centurion (Mathew 8:5-13)

Early this week, a friend shared the centurion’s story in a morning devotion. I must confess that I have read and heard this story several times. However, reflecting on it this week has brought to mind three truths that I wanted to share with you.

1.      Understand authority: It takes great humility for a great leader like the centurion to admit that he does not have it all. He commanded soldiers under his charge but also knew that Jesus would command diseases. Instead of figuring out how to heal diseases, he approached the one who had the specialty in doing that.  Asking Jesus to heal his servant signifies that the Centurion understood who had the ultimate authority. He accepted that his own authority had limitations. No matter how easy it can be to claim of how we can do almost everything, we have to admit that we cannot really do it all. We have to let others and God do what we cannot do (Mathew 8:5-7).

2.      Words are powerful and carry weight: Oh, what a profound statement that the Centurion said to Jesus “...But only speak a word and my servant will be healed” (Mathew 8:8). Why would a powerful leader like the centurion even say that he was not worthy to have Jesus come under his roof? Was his house so dirty? Did he think that Jesus would not accept the invitation to go to his house? It is so fascinating to see that the centurion did not have extreme pride that his authority could have brought to him. Maybe as individuals today, we should ponder on the kind of words we say to those around us. We should stop claiming how we are better than the rest. We should use our words to build and encourage each other. We should speak from humility not from pride. The centurion used his position of authority to express his belief that Jesus did not have to go to his house to heal the servant. All he needed was Jesus’ word (verses 8-9). Friends, what word do you need today? What word will you say today? Is it going to build or break those around you? Will it make those around you do what they can do best with utmost confidence? Will we remain humble even when we have influence or get to be in authority?

3.      True faith is about believing: The Bible tells us of what Jesus said in response to the Centurion, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mathew 8:10-12). As far as I know, the Centurion was an army commander. He was not a minister in the church and neither did he serve with a faith-based organization, yet Jesus is telling us that his faith superseded anyone else’s. Is Jesus telling us that even the faith of the Levites was lacking? What of the faith of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes, and Zealots? Does that mean that we can claim to be people of faith, yet Jesus does not count us among the people of great faith? I think what Jesus thinks of our faith should supersede our personal elevation of how faithful we are. Today it is easy to boast of being faithful because people get to know Christ when we share about him. Should we even boast about that? Should one say that I led say I led this number of people to Christ? Who even transforms people? Is it us or the work of the Holy Spirit? I am not saying that the Lord does not or cannot use us. All that I am saying is that all that we do should be to give Glory back to him not to boost our own egos. We should acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s work in and through us. Ours is to only believe and let God do the rest.  Jesus asserts, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would” (Mathew 8:13). 

What is your plan?

 This week, I have been reflecting on a few highlights of what is happening in Uganda and the USA. Security is of a big concern in both countries where kidnapping and shooting of people have been (Still are) talking points. What happened to strategic planning and thinking? Why does it look like systems are failing? Why is it easy to brush off the president’s messages and the messages of those in authority? What do the government and the police plan to do to prevent such from happening again? Is there anybody who can bring a lasting plan? Like many of you, I must say that I am not happy with the status quo in our countries and the world at large. All things and plans, no matter how good they are or sound, seem to be slowly dying.

 It is good to have a zeal for changing things, of wanting to make the world a better place but can the problems in the world end? It is hard to comprehend that indeed all-human knowledge and plans end. If all is ending, then what should be our ultimate plan? To answer the question one can say, “There is no plan except God’s plan. Jesus came to provide an answer to the problems of sin and death.  We could not solve them by ourselves. Instead of relying on our leaders to solve our current problems, can we turn our focus to Jesus the ultimate solution? Jesus overcame it all and helps us trump over the problems of sin and death.

The only thing that we possess right now is our soul. We should know that our soul will spend eternity somewhere. The main question that should throb into our minds should be about what the outcome of our personal lives is, or will be. Ezekiel 33:1-6 stipulates that leaders are stewards of God’s resources. In verse 4, Ezekiel says”Then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head”. How many warnings do we still need? We ought to think about how our lives will end. God’s plan is to have us live for him eternally. Ours is to grow in our walk with him, live eternal lives and focus on spending eternity with him.  My prayer is that whoever does not know God shall come to know of his ultimate plan and have his conduct transformed.