27/11/2025
BY FAITH SERIES OF DEVOTION BREAK
Many, if not only a few, Bible-reading, believing, and devout Christians know about this text, the Centurion's Faith. For those who don't know about the word & a few things about the Roman Army, a "centurion" is a Roman Army officer in charge of 100 soldiers (that would be half of a rifle company in WW2). A "Tribune" is also a Roman Army officer who is in charge of 1,000 soldiers, and a "Legate" is in charge of 6,000 soldiers.
Now, let's get to the topic, the centurion, a typical Gentile who was considered unwelcome to the Jewish people at that time. He was under a pagan ruler, not a godly government, and he and his people, the Romans, were pagan people. Why would this "... uncircumcised Philistine defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Sam. 17:26) As David would put it, he would dare to show up to a Jewish Messiah whom the Jews only expect to come & heal their land and not the land of the illegal occupiers by conquest, and he should've brought an army with him to guard him because there were bitter sentiments of the Jews towards the Romans, but this Roman pagan chose to seek the Lord who can do everything without any limits unlike false professing soothsayers of what will be of his sick servant, and why would a Roman army officer care for just one servant? He can get another servant if this servant passes away from his sickness, but perhaps this one centurion's servant was very special to him—not that he's the only one and he won't treat other servants special, but perhaps in this case, this one servant's soul was precious to this centurion. Such compassion—where can you find such a one?
Christ has recognized the compassion of this heathen Gentile, a compassion so rare in our days today, and during his days was rare & cannot be compared. Christ has greater compassion as He's God the Son, the Saviour, and the Healer, but he used this unwelcome man whom most of his people would never expect to have great compassion over one servant. When you have compassion towards just one soul that's very precious to you, if you truly want to win that soul to Christ, you'll do what it takes to plead the Lord for the wisdom, for the timing, and the answers just like this one centurion did for his servant.
This centurion's faith example is good to compare with Luke 15:10 (KJV): "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
Because he, himself, this centurion chose humility in approaching the Savior, he didn't flash his "I'm a Centurion" badge. "In the order of Caesar, I command you, low-grade citizen healer, to go to my servant and heal him!" No, he chose humility, he chose to have faith in the Christ, and he rejoiced after his prayer was fulfilled.
Every soulwinner ought to rejoice as the angels up in Heaven do, but before any Christian could rejoice with the angels in Heaven, there is a question that you really ought to strive to win:
HAVE YOU PROVEN YOUR COMPASSION?
- To just one soul who many don't care about?
- To just one soul who doesn't know Christ?
- To just one soul who needs to know you care?
Because, like this Centurion, many don't care about his ill servant; his ill servant doesn't yet know Christ at that time, and does that servant know his friend/master cares for him?
What did his master/friend do?
That centurion went to Christ amidst the scoffing crowd, he humbled himself for this one soul, and he went his way to see his servant healed after Christ had fulfilled the prayer of this humble centurion.
Prove your compassion:
- Even if your desire is unacceptable to others
(Like how the Jews treated the uncircumcised)
- Even if it will take a lot of effort of Faith
(Like that Centurion possibly went through)
- Even if it will take time to answer
(If it's Faith, it's quick; if it's something beyond Faith, then wait for the answer.)
It takes FAITH to make your proven compassion come to fruition in prayers.
THE INCOMPARABLE FAITH!
(AKA: The Centurion's Faith)
Matthew 8:5-13
Key verse: 10
"When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."
Devotion by Enli8hten
GABCM Biñan Laguna
May the Lord Find us Faithful
