Only Speak a Word, Lord

Daily Devotional – Monday, October 11, 2021

…but only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.

Matthew 8:8 (NKJV)

He was a Roman, a member of the oppressing colonialist nation. He was a centurion, in charge of one hundred hated soldiers. All odds were against him in his neighborhood.

His servant was “lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” (Matthew 8:6). The fastest path to healing for the servant was a Jewish Rabbi and Healer – Jesus Christ.

For the sake of his servant, the centurion risked his reputation and social status to ask for help from a Jew. The soldier made his request as Jesus entered the town of Capernaum.

Concerning the sick servant, Christ answered, “I will come and heal him.” (Matthew 8:7). The soldier, however, wanted immediate action.

The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Matthew 8:8-9).

Jesus marveled at and praised the soldier’s faith. The centurion knew Jesus had power. Just a word from the Lord would heal the servant. It happened exactly as the soldier had requested.

We may think our problems have no solutions after many failed attempts. What we need is the centurion’s faith. Our prayer to the Lord should be, “only speak a word.”

Whatever life throws at you today, remember to ask Jesus to speak a word and it shall be well with you.

Lord Jesus, speak a word into my life today.