Without Wavering

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 8:13 (NLT)

You probably know the story behind this Scripture.  When Jesus entered Capernaum, a Roman officer, a man who commanded a hundred troops, came to Jesus with a request. 

“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

As an officer who understood authority the centurion was certain there was a way his servant could be healed, and he was confident he had found the way to get it done. He had heard of the healing power of this Jesus of Nazareth.

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.”

This man was a leader. He respected the authority of those above him, and those under his leadership respected his authority. He knew that he could tell those beneath him to do something, and it would be done. Without hesitation, he believed that Jesus had the power to take care of this problem from right where they were standing. He also did not want to burden Jesus. Jesus had his own responsibilities as a leader. Quickly, the centurion tells Jesus to just say the word, and his servant will be healed.

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!”

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.

Do you realize how powerful this story about faith is for us?  The centurion believed Jesus could heal his servant. He did not doubt. And what did Jesus tell him?  He hasn’t seen such a faith like that in anyone in Israel! The servant was healed!

And here is the incredible Truth that Jesus speaks. “Let it be done just as you have believed!” Do we really believe the gift of His life purchased our healing, or do we doubt? Do we pray for healing doubting if He loves us enough to heal, or do we ask from strength believing that He is faithful? How can He not love us enough? He died for us so we might live. By His wounds we are healed.

James writes, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do” (James 1:6-8, NIV).

Getting to the place where you believe without doubting, is not something that happens overnight. Faith to believe your mountain will move comes from allowing the Holy Spirit to transform your mind with His Truth. Knowing you can stand on the Word of God is powerful and life-changing.

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm,” the writer to the Hebrews declares, “for God can be trusted to keep his promise” (Hebrews 10:23, NLT).

Oh, yes, there is that word—trust. The Roman officer had been trained to trust those in authority above him.  Likewise, we can be trained by the Word to trust Jesus, our Savior, whose authority is absolute. Trust grows as you walk by faith in the Word—believing beyond what you see, hear, or feel. The centurion believed beyond his servant’s condition. Spiritual maturity puts down deep roots in the meat of God’s Word. The centurion did not just become an officer without years of training and walking by faith in his commander’s authority.

In the very beginning, God’s Word existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. His Word is LIFE! Be trained by it! Faith to believe is not something beyond your reach. Learn to hold tightly to what you believe without wavering. God is faithful to keep His promises.

©2020 Lynn Lacher

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