If you were a teenager in the mid 80’s then you couldn’t help but to dance to the hit single performed by the Bangles, “Walk Like An Egyptian.” I am dancing in my head right now, aren’t you?!
Well, let’s time hop back to the present day. In our world today the challenge is not to walk like an Egyptian, but to live out our faith like the Centurion found in Matthew 8:5-13.
Y’all know the story! As Jesus entered the city of Capernaum, a Roman officer plead to Him about one of his young servants who was paralyzed and in terrible pain. In Matthew 8:7Jesus quickly responded, “I will come and heal him.” To which the Centurion famously rebutted in the following verse, “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.” In verse 10 Jesus was amazed by this public demonstration of Faith and because the Centurion’s faith that servant was healed that very same day (v13).
No one really know the centurion’s backstory, but he seemed to have a softer heart than most Roman soldiers. Despite his rugged and tough exterior, he recognized Jesus authority because he referred to Jesus as Lord and notably humbled.
Undoubtedly, we are all like the centurion. None of us is worthy to approach the Lord with any requests. Our sin prevents it. But, Jesus in His great compassion overlooks our sin so He can make a connection with us. It doesn’t matter if we’re Jewish or Gentile, free or slave, man, woman, or child of any color, background, politics, or culture. It doesn’t matter.
Imagine for a moment if one person from every Christian household in our nation possessed this Centurion like faith? Our nation would be healed, delivered and set-free from all the non-sense and senseless hatred and violence we see streaming in the news and on social media platforms!
Bottom line, as Christians we are eagerly awaiting the return of our risen Savior, but it’s up to us to live by faith NOW! We must make to make the first move. If we can allow Jesus to touch our hearts, then we can build a legacy of hope, not just for ourselves but for others as well. Like the Centurion who built houses of prayer for the Jews, we create our own house of faith for Jesus to enter if we humble ourselves and invite Him in. It’s then the hope and healing begins to grow and multiply. Psalm 147:3 reminds us that, “He came to the earth to “heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.”
4GIVEN 