We continue our paragraph topic: (The Centurion's Faith) Part 2.
The central theme of this paragraph comes to the statement in this verse: "Lord, I am not worthy.....but only say the word, and my servant will be healed."
The centurion expresses his repentance in stating his unworthiness. At the same time he pleads with Christ to heal his servant. These last two paragraphs have been tremendous examples of faith. The leper states in his confession, Lord, if thou wilt. The centurion states, Lord I am not worthy. Such simple expressions go far beyond their simplicity of statement and exemplify deep, sincere, heart felt pleas to God Almighty for his help. Lord, I am not worthy, so why would you help me. Lord, I am a sinner so why do you care about me. Lord, I am a addict, a pornographer, a hooker, a deceiver, a luster, a greedy person, a selfish person, a liar, a vain person, but I realize my mistakes. Lord I ask for your forgiveness from the depths of my heart. Lord please forgive me and heal my servant. Lord please forgive me and heal my brother. Lord please forgive me and heal my mother. Lord please forgive me and heal my son/daughter. Please forgive me Father.
It is you Father that I recognize as the only one that can heal them. I have tried all of the worldly ways. I have tried the doctors. I have tried the specialist. I have tried the cutting edge treatments. I have tried the new medicines. I had tried everything except you and now I realize that you are the one. Help me Father. The centurion being a man of authority certainly had to have tried all other measures before coming to Christ. He certainly had to know the physicians of the time. He certainly had to know of cutting edge technology that was taking place during his age. He certainly had to believe that there was some way to save his dear servant that he loved and needed. So he came to Christ.
He came to Christ and acknowledged him as the source when he called him Lord. He acknowledged him as the authority when he humbled himself and said that he was not worthy. He broke himself down when he asked Christ to speak the words to heal his servant. Do we acknowledge our unworthiness today? Do we accept Christ as the healer of last resort? Do we believe that he can heal all? Do we have the true faith to speak the words to him, asking for his help? The centurion did. He came. He acknowledged. He humbled himself. He believed. He accepted. He had the faith. He left in trust knowing that all will be well.
It is not an easy thing to come by such faith that allows one to act upon a belief. It is not a common thing to transform oneself into a trusting soul. It is not stroll through the park vs an obstacle course that allows one to truly accept that Christ can perform miracles before our eyes. We see it on TV programs, in conferences, and in revival gatherings. Sick people are miraculously being healed. Is it real? Is it a joke? Is it fake? Do we believe?
Miracles happen everyday and yet the masses are not transformed. How is it possible to create, to posses, to have, to know, to get such a faith? Does it take a tragic event to transform ourselves to the point that we reach a level within, where we are able to make a plea, to cry for help, to acknowledge the one source that can perform that miracle? Or, can we learn through daily practice and patience to, through a instantaneous spiritual spark deep within ourselves, see ourselves transformed into a person that has faith. To then take that spark, nurture it into a flame, and fan it until it becomes sufficient to burn on its own. To then feed that flame with spiritual fuel until it matures into a full blown fire that drives us with confidence and hope in what Christ has in store for us. Finally, having that flame within us, we walk in trust and knowledge that our heavenly Father is with us at all times. Can this be the outcome of a mature faith? Can this be the path that we are to walk in life? Lord, I am not worthy, but only say the words and I will be healed. Transform me Father into that which you will.
The central theme of this paragraph comes to the statement in this verse: "Lord, I am not worthy.....but only say the word, and my servant will be healed."
The centurion expresses his repentance in stating his unworthiness. At the same time he pleads with Christ to heal his servant. These last two paragraphs have been tremendous examples of faith. The leper states in his confession, Lord, if thou wilt. The centurion states, Lord I am not worthy. Such simple expressions go far beyond their simplicity of statement and exemplify deep, sincere, heart felt pleas to God Almighty for his help. Lord, I am not worthy, so why would you help me. Lord, I am a sinner so why do you care about me. Lord, I am a addict, a pornographer, a hooker, a deceiver, a luster, a greedy person, a selfish person, a liar, a vain person, but I realize my mistakes. Lord I ask for your forgiveness from the depths of my heart. Lord please forgive me and heal my servant. Lord please forgive me and heal my brother. Lord please forgive me and heal my mother. Lord please forgive me and heal my son/daughter. Please forgive me Father.
It is you Father that I recognize as the only one that can heal them. I have tried all of the worldly ways. I have tried the doctors. I have tried the specialist. I have tried the cutting edge treatments. I have tried the new medicines. I had tried everything except you and now I realize that you are the one. Help me Father. The centurion being a man of authority certainly had to have tried all other measures before coming to Christ. He certainly had to know the physicians of the time. He certainly had to know of cutting edge technology that was taking place during his age. He certainly had to believe that there was some way to save his dear servant that he loved and needed. So he came to Christ.
He came to Christ and acknowledged him as the source when he called him Lord. He acknowledged him as the authority when he humbled himself and said that he was not worthy. He broke himself down when he asked Christ to speak the words to heal his servant. Do we acknowledge our unworthiness today? Do we accept Christ as the healer of last resort? Do we believe that he can heal all? Do we have the true faith to speak the words to him, asking for his help? The centurion did. He came. He acknowledged. He humbled himself. He believed. He accepted. He had the faith. He left in trust knowing that all will be well.
It is not an easy thing to come by such faith that allows one to act upon a belief. It is not a common thing to transform oneself into a trusting soul. It is not stroll through the park vs an obstacle course that allows one to truly accept that Christ can perform miracles before our eyes. We see it on TV programs, in conferences, and in revival gatherings. Sick people are miraculously being healed. Is it real? Is it a joke? Is it fake? Do we believe?
Miracles happen everyday and yet the masses are not transformed. How is it possible to create, to posses, to have, to know, to get such a faith? Does it take a tragic event to transform ourselves to the point that we reach a level within, where we are able to make a plea, to cry for help, to acknowledge the one source that can perform that miracle? Or, can we learn through daily practice and patience to, through a instantaneous spiritual spark deep within ourselves, see ourselves transformed into a person that has faith. To then take that spark, nurture it into a flame, and fan it until it becomes sufficient to burn on its own. To then feed that flame with spiritual fuel until it matures into a full blown fire that drives us with confidence and hope in what Christ has in store for us. Finally, having that flame within us, we walk in trust and knowledge that our heavenly Father is with us at all times. Can this be the outcome of a mature faith? Can this be the path that we are to walk in life? Lord, I am not worthy, but only say the words and I will be healed. Transform me Father into that which you will.
