I Understand Your Authority

Scripture: 5 When Jesus entered the village of Capernaum, a captain in the Roman army approached him, asking for a miracle, 6 “Lord,” he said, “I have a son who is lying in my home, paralyzed and suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus responded, “I will go with you and heal him.” 8-9 But the Roman officer interjected, “Lord, who am I to have you come into my house? I understand your authority, for I too am a man who walks under authority and have authority over soldiers who serve under me. I can tell one to go and he’ll go, and another to come and he’ll come. I order my servants and they’ll do whatever I ask. So I know that all you need to do is to stand here and command healing over my son and he will be instantly healed.” 10 Jesus was astonished when he heard this and said to those who were following him, “He has greater faith than anyone I’ve encountered in Israel!” (Matthew 8:5-10 The Passion) This must have been so very encouraging and delightful for Jesus! Here was a supposedly outsider, and yet he had such faith and understanding. Because he was a man under authority and one who had authority over others, he could relate to the authority he knew Jesus had, and so he just believed. I want to believe as simply as this Roman officer did. I want to understand Jesus’ authority and believe. Father, thank You for this illustration of the Roman officer who understood your authority and believed. Help me to believe more and more. I love You. AMEN I know, Father, that You have a generous reward for me as I do love You. As I look at my children and grandchildren gathered around my table I feel such joy and happiness. Psalm 128
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