November 6 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Luke 7:1-18:

¹Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
²And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
³And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
⁴And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying that he was worthy for whom he should do this:
⁵For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
⁶Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
⁷Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
⁸For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
⁹When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
¹⁰And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
¹¹And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.
¹²Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
¹³And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
¹⁴And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
¹⁵And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
¹⁶And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
¹⁷And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.
¹⁸And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

Devotional

Who had such great faith? A Roman centurion. Who was he? Let us note that he was a Roman and not a Jew. He had not the privileges and advantages that the Jews had. The Jews had the Bible, that is, the Old Testament, the revelation of God. They hated the Romans very much, because they ruled over them, but they loved this centurion, and this centurion loved them. He had come in contact with the Jewish religion and assented to it, and even built them a synagogue. And evidently he had heard of Jesus.

Now what did he believe concerning Jesus? He had a serv­ant (a slave) who was very sick, ready to die. But he believes that Christ can restore him to health. Thinking himself unworthy to come to Jesus, he sends the elders of the Jews to Jesus, that they might beseech Jesus to come and heal his servant. "And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this." But the centurion had sent friends to tell him: "I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof . . . But say the word, and my servant shall be healed." When the centurion commanded his soldiers and servants, he, was instantly obeyed. Should not the commands of Jesus, the Lord of Glory, be obeyed? Such faith Jesus had not found in Israel, not even among his disciples. They belonged to Israel. And Jesus told the centurion, it would be unto him ac­cording to his faith. And his servant was healed that very hour. What about our faith?

Prayer

O Lord our God, teach us our utter unworthiness and sinfulness, and grant us a childlike faith. Help us to believe that with Thee nothing is impossible. And in all sorrow and sickness and tribulation; yea, and in the hour of death, be thou our re­fuge, and a very present help. Deliver us from all evil, and grant us an abundant entrance into Thy eternal kingdom. For Christ's sake. Amen.

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