“When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, ‘Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.’ Jesus said, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the officer said, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed” (Matthew 8:5-8)

The NLT renders Matthew 8:8 as: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home…” Not worthy, not deserving. These are not the words of an ordinary man. He was a centurion, a man of authority, a commander of a hundred of the ruling Roman army. He said to Jesus: “I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it” (Matthew 8:9). But standing before Jesus, he called Jesus ‘Lord’ meaning ‘Master.’

The centurion teaches us the exceptional life lesson of humility. Psalm 147:6 says: “The Lord lifts up the humble.…” Though he had faith, he got access through his humility (Luke 18:14). Matthew says he pleaded with Jesus. In Luke’s account of this encounter, this man said he knew he was unworthy to have Jesus in his home so he “sent some respected Jewish elders to ask Him to come and heal his slave” (Luke 7:3).

Grace found him (and his servant). Grace is getting what you don't deserve. To whom does God give His grace? James 4:6 says: “And He gives grace generously… God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” In all, may we always go humbly before Him. Amen.

BeEncouraged❤️ Freely Received. Freely Share

BLESSED DAY❤️🤗