The Joy of Having Faith in a Perfectly Faithful God

The account given in Luke 7 of Jesus healing the Centurion’s servant is a rather short and easily overlooked story. However, in this passage, God reveals some supremely significant truths. This section of Luke proves that there truly is no section of Scripture that is irrelevant. In fact, these ten verses tell us a lot more than simply a story of one of Jesus’s miracles; they show us that God has infinite power and that true God-given faith stands out and can move mountains. We also are given an example of how humility and a recognition of our lowly state leads to the ability to see Christ as He is: the Lord of Lords and King of Kings who was brought low for our sake. The Centurion was a man who was highly esteemed in his community. He had power and wealth. Yet, in verse six, he says he is not worthy to have Jesus even enter his household. There is an important lesson of both trust and humility to be seen in the Centurion.

Not only did the man not think himself worthy of being in the presence of Jesus, but he also trusted the power of Jesus enough to ask the Lord to heal his servant from where they stood. How often do we, in a trial or struggle, pray to God with doubt and concern and hesitation? It is against our human nature to give up control and truly trust God. However, this Centurion does just that, and he is not disappointed. His servant is healed, and he is praised for his act of faith. We, too, must remember that we serve a loving and a powerful God.

What a wonderful combination.

God shows us love in sending his Son, in upholding us in this life, and in bringing us closer to himself, even in the midst of this sinful world. However, we also serve a powerful God who has the ability to heal us, to help us, to calm us, to deliver us, and to grow us.

Since he is a faithful God, we are called to be faithful servants to him. May we have the kind of faith that the Centurion showed in Luke 7. May we call out to God with the confidence that what we ask will surely be granted. May that same faith be used to show the love of Christ to those around us. If the Centurion cared so much for the earthly state of his servant, how much more should we care for the eternal wellbeing of those around us? It is easy to think about people like Daniel, Joseph, and David for examples of saving, trusting faith. However, we do not need to walk into a fiery furnace, be sold into slavery, or stand against a giant in order to find or exemplify mountain-moving faith. Instead, we must simply look to God with a trusting heart: “Here is my life, guide me, sanctify me, and lead me in your ways.” We must do so with a confidence that the loving, almighty God whom we serve will fulfill all those things in our lives in unimaginable ways. For we have in his word a plethora of promises, to be held through any situation we might face in this life.

The same God-given faith that allowed Daniel to walk through fire unharmed, that allowed Joseph to thrive and witness even after being sold into slavery, that allowed David to stand against a giant and prevail, lives in us. How can we ever fear things in this life? How can we ever doubt a God who has never failed? When we face a trial or unsure situation in this life, may we stand firm in the confidence that the God who rules over us is faithful and loving. Even when we fail, when we falter, when we doubt, he stands firm for us. He will never leave us or forsake us. What a joy we have to rest in that promise.