Just Say the Word

God has blessed us with a more wonderful privilege than most of us realize; it is the opportunity to learn the life of faith. Many times when we face trials, instead of seeing them as opportunities, we get discouraged, frustrated, and even depressed, not understanding that God has allowed them for us to grow! It is interesting that Jesus never ascribed great faith to a Jew (those who live by the law), but only to Gentiles. Why? Because the law is not based on faith and does not produce faith.

Galatians 3:12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”

One of the people Jesus declared as one who had great faith was a high-ranking military official. He was a centurion and came to Jesus asking Him to heal his servant; Jesus agreed and said, “I will go and heal him.” Here is the account: 

Matthew 8:8-10   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. 9 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. ” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

Not only did this man understand authority and the power of a spoken word, but he believed in the power of God. Jesus declared him as one who had great faith. This man knew that Jesus could simply say the word, and the power to heal his servant would be released! Wow! Instead of living in doubt and fear, he chose to believe!

1 Peter 1:6-9 In this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The reason why faith is so important is that it has the power to save your soul (mind, will, and emotions). When we live in fear, worry, discouragement, and depression, our soul is living far below its potential! God wants you to love being you! The Scripture above says, “even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” God wants you to live a life of inexpressible and glorious joy!

The centurion believed in the power of God and received his breakthrough. Since God is no respecter of persons, he is ready to do amazing things for anyone who will believe him!

Today’s your day go deeper into the life of faith! Next time you face a trial, recognize that it is an opportunity for you to grow in the greatest life of all! What you believe is where your life is heading! Yes, the me I see is the me I’ll be. Oh, that we would believe God! Oh, yes, may we have a heart of faith like the centurion when he said to Jesus...

Just Say The Word