A Servant's Healing Devo

July 24th, 2016  

Devotional

“The Gospel of Matthew: A Servant’s Healing” - Matthew 8: 5-13

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Monday: “Came to Him” -Matthew 8:5-6

Jesus entered the place he had made his home away from home - the city of Capernaum. Different cultures existed together there - religious and political - so it wouldn’t have been uncommon to see Roman soldiers around the area. What would have been uncommon is a Roman coming to talk to Jesus.

Perhaps the centurion had heard about Jesus’s reputation. Perhaps he had tried other means of healing before. Whatever the case and circumstance - he now came before Jesus, appealing to him to heal his servant.

We too must come before Jesus - daily - with our prayer requests. Our requests for healing. Not just physical healing, but healing from the sin that has held us captive too long. Healing from broken relationships. Healing from circumstances in our control and those well beyond our control. What do you need to come to Jesus for today? 

Do you find it easy or difficult to bring your request before Jesus? Why?

What are some of your prayer habits? Who do you pray for? When do you pray? Do you thank God when your requests are answered?

Prayer: God, you encourage us to come before you with our prayer requests, both for ourselves and others. Open up our hearts so we come to you in faith, like the centurion, appealing to you. Remove anything that would block us from coming to you in prayer. Hear us we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “I Will Come” - Matthew 8:7

After hearing te plea of the centurion, Jesus’s immediate response was that he would come and cure him. We live in a world of instant gratification - we don’t like to have to wait for things. My parents have told my brother and I stories from time to time of people who act badly when they have to wait in line or wait for their prescriptions in their line of work. We probably have all seen people over-react to having to wait for something. 

Sometimes we don’t get the same response of the centurion that Jesus will answer our prayers immediately. Sometimes we have to wait for an answer to be more in line with God’s perfect timing. But Jesus promises to always come and walk beside us, no matter what we are going through in life.

Tell of a time you had to wait for answer to prayer. What happened? How did it make you feel?

How do you know that Jesus is walking beside you in life?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes we get angry when our prayers are not answered in the same speed as the centurions. We start to doubt you. We start to doubt your timing and sometimes even doubt your presence in our lives. Yet, you walk beside us through each day. Help us sense and rely on your abiding presence at all times. Amen. 

Wednesday: “ I’m Not Worthy” - Matthew 8: 8

For a long time I have signed notes to my friends with “You are WORTHY and LOVED”. We live in a society that tries to base our worth off of our salaries or positions or some other measurable form of success. When Jesus came into the world our worthiness became based off off something completely different - our relationship with God, chiefly that we are called children of God.

The centurion had not yet received the message that he was made worthy by God’s grace and love. Instead, he felt like he was not deserving of having Jesus enter into his home, even to do something as important as heal his servant. So he tells Jesus simply to speak and his servant would be healed. 

Faith and love go hand in hand. The centurion had faith without yet knowing how deeply he was loved by God. How can we communicate to others that they are loved by God and help them grow in their trust and faith in Christ?

When did you first know that you were loved by God?

How do you grow in your personal faith?

Prayer: Lord, sometimes we forget that we are worthy, not because we have deserve what you have given us, but simply because you call us your children. You have lavished grace and mercy upon us, Lord. Undeserved gifts. Help us to appreciate your love and learn to trust you more. Amen. 

Thursday: “Such Faith” Matthew 8: 9-11

Jesus was amazed in the faith of the centurion. It was if he get everything that others were overlooking, even those who should have known better. He understood how powerful Jesus was. He understood the level of authority, or control, Jesus had over things that even the most powerful human could change. While comparing his own authority in overseeing one hundred soldiers at a time, he admitted that he had no authority in comparison to Christ.

What would need to change in our lives for us to relinquish and idea that we are in control to Christ? What would have to happen for us to affirm, not just with our lips, but with our hearts and actions that Christ has authority over us? What would it take for us to have “such faith” as the centurion? 

What are some ways you show that Christ has authority over your life?

How are authority and faith connected?

Prayer: Lord, we are people who sometimes falter. We confess, O God, that at times we do not have “such faith” as the centurion. We would more easily fall in the category of those who should know about your authority, but those who fail to claim it. Those who fail to give you the credit you are do. Forgive us, O Lord. Help us grow in our confidence in you each and every day. Amen. 

Friday: “Go” - Matthew 8: 12-13

There are other stories in scripture where Jesus spoke and people were healed from a distance. There are other stories where people put their faith in Christ. But what makes this story, in particular, notable is that it wasn’t a religious teacher or even a Jewish follower, but instead the least expected person.

Jesus can change peoples lives in amazing ways. Sometimes its people who know nothing about him. Other times its those who have wondered away from the faith. Still other times it is those who are faithful in all circumstances. Jesus has the power to change lives. While we aren’t told what happened to the centurion after he left, I guarantee his life was changed, not just because his servant was healed, but because of his encounter with Christ. 

How has Christ changed your life? 

Prayer: Lord, you are in the business of changing lives. Even those people that we have discounted. Even the people who seem to have it all together. You are in the business of renewing hearts and turning them back to you. We praise you for that this day, O Christ. Amen and Amen!

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

Family Activity: Talk to your kids about faith. What makes you believe in a person? What makes you believe that your parents will be there for you time after time? Experience. How can we grow in our experience with God so we can have faith that God will always be there for us?