Healing Grace

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”

 

Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”

 

But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.  I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

 

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!

 

Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

—Matthew 8:1-10, 13 (NLT)

 

 

Three days ago, I kicked a chair leg by accident and loosened a toenail on my left foot—the leg with the blood clot. I strapped it down fairly quickly because I am on a blood thinner, and my toe only bled a little. The first day wasn't bad, but the last two have been difficult. I have to keep my foot way up in the air when I sit or sleep. When blood doesn't get to it quickly, the nerves in my toes and foot begin to burn. In the daytime, it is easier to handle because I can get up and walk around a little and get the blood flowing. The night is harder. Getting up every twenty minutes at night to walk means that I grab a short nap here and there.

 

I found this Scripture and read it. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the faith of the Roman officer. Today I can understand the pain of the servant of the Roman officer. But I identify with the faith of the officer who believed that Jesus could heal his servant without even going to his house. I feel the pain—yet I believe Jesus healed me when He died on Calvary. And just as He rose from the dead, I will rise from this pain. I believe I’m in the process of being transformed by His truth.

 

I came to Jesus by faith, and I believe in His promises by faith. Faith grows from hearing the Word of God. In the last two months, I have experienced physical pain, as I have never known. I understand a little better what some others in pain face. Yet I also know that Jesus doesn’t want me to be in pain. I won’t wallow in it because that defeats faith to believe in His healing grace.

 

"Because you believe," Jesus told the Roman officer, "it has happened."  The officer's servant discovered healing in that same hour. Belief is powerful, and it is a choice. You choose to believe in what you can’t see or haven’t experienced. Faith fuels your trust in God. What do you face? What is your need? Are you the servant in pain? Are you hurting from circumstances that are choking your faith? Choose to believe in His faithfulness to you. When you place your trust in Jesus believing He has defeated sickness and death, you experience His peace and healing grace. Then your present circumstances don’t defeat you, and you believe without wavering.

 

Just before this story of the Roman officer, a leper told Jesus that he believed he could heal him from leprosy if he were willing.  Without hesitation, Jesus touched the leper and said, "I am willing! Be healed." And his leprosy instantly was gone.

 

Without hesitation, I reach out for the truth of His healing grace. I believe. I know He is willing because He gave His life for me. Reach out and trust God. Let the truth of the Word fuel your faith. Look for His promises. Trust what He says. Have the faith of the Roman officer who believed.

 

©2020 Lynn Lacher

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