Devotional thoughts on Luke 7:1-10

By Rachel Friel

Reflect upon the time when your heart was first introduced to the wonder of baby Jesus’s birth, the astonishment of Jesus raising the dead, the power of his healing words causing the blind to see, the pain felt when hearing of his crucifixion, the hope when he rose from the grave. What does it take to believe all these true and heart-changing stories? to apply their message to our lives? 

The answer is simple: faith. 

A Centurion’s Faith

In Luke 7 we are introduced to a centurion whose heart beheld great faith. In biblical times a centurion was a loyal and courageous man, in charge of 100 men. This centurion had wealth and power, yet showed deep compassion, faith, and humility. 

When one of the centurion’s servants was sick to the point of death, he sent elders of the Jews to Jesus, begging for healing. Jesus followed them to the centurion’s house. Yet when Jesus was not far from the centurion’s house, the Bible says the centurion sent friends with this message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word and my servant will be healed” (vv. 6, 7 NKJV). 

The Bible then tells us that Jesus marveled. This word marveled is used only one other time in the gospels. The other reference is in Mark 6:6, when he is marveling at the unbelief of his Nazareth neighbors. Was the servant healed? A resounding YES! The centurion’s faith led Christ to marvel and his servant to be healed.

To Marvel

By definition marvel means “something that causes wonder, admiration or astonishment; a wonderful thing.” Does your faith lead God to marvel? I am hopeful that God would say your faith is wonderful. May he marvel at your faithful love, abounding joy, kind works, uplifting words, humble ways, and daily bowing to his lordship. May you be able to look forward to the day when you hear him say, “Well done good and faithful servant. . . . Come and share your master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:21, NIV). May we all demonstrate this amazing faith in the same way as the centurion.

Rachel Friel is a second grade teacher in Yadkinville, North Carolina. She loves reading, camping, hiking, sharing her love for Christ, and sharing life with her fun husband, J. J.