An Amazing Prayer September 11, 2022
Sunday, September 11th
Take5 Devotional today written by Rik Bright, Director of Facility Operations
An Amazing Prayer
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just 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.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “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.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
Matthew 8:5-13
If something is done by a follower who “amazes” Jesus, we should pay close attention. Such is the case in this portion of Scripture. Let’s think about why it amazed Him so much. It’s not overly complex but it is indescribably deep.
The level of faith and confidence displayed by this Centurion was such that he knew Jesus didn’t need to be present to heal his servant – he believed that all Jesus had to do was “speak the word”. What an enormous expression of complete and total faith in the Master – oh that we would have that perspective in all matters!
As we conclude this simple series looking at prayer, let’s never forget the critical relationship between prayer and faith. In prayer, we have access to the God whom we believe is not only indescribably powerful but also incredibly loving. He is with us. He is for us.
May our prayers reflect our faith and trust in the one who can change everything!