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THE HEALING OF THE CENTURION’S SERVANT
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Luke 7:1-10

Matthew 8:5-13

 

No greater faith!

 

THE HEALING OF THE CENTURION’S SERVANT
 
Luke 7:1-10 describes the miraculous cure of a sick man. A centurion in the Roman army applies to our Lord on behalf of his servant and obtains what he requests. A greater miracle of healing than this is nowhere recorded in the Gospels. Without even seeing the sufferer, without touch of hand or look of eye, our Lord restores health to a dying man by a single word. He speaks and the sick man is cured. He commands and the disease departs. We read of no prophet or apostle who wrought miracles in this manner. We see here the finger of God.
 
The kindness of the centurion appears in three ways. He cares for his sick servant tenderly and takes pains to have him restored to health (Luke 7:3). He does not despise the Jewish people as many other Gentiles did. The elders of the Jews bear a strong testimony to this (Luke 7:5). He liberally supported the Jewish place of worship at Capernaum, not loving Israel in words and tongue only, but in deed.
 
Let us learn a lesson from this centurion’s example. Let us, like him, show kindness to everyone with whom we have to do. Let us strive to have an eye ready to see, and a hand ready to help, and a heart ready to feel, and a will ready to do good to all. Let us be ready to weep with them that weep and rejoice with them that rejoice (Rom 12:15). This is the way to recommend our religion and make it beautiful before men. Kindness is a grace that all can understand. This is one way to be like our blessed Saviour. If there is one feature in His character more notable than another it is His unwearied kindness and love. There is one way to be happy in the world and see good days. Kindness always brings its own reward. The kind person will seldom be without friends.
 
THOUGHT: Kindness to all is a characteristic of God (Luke 6:32-36). Christians are exhorted to show similar kindnesses, doing good to those who are fellow believers in Christ especially, but also to men in general (Gal 6:10). Even our enemies are to be the recipients of our kindness (Luke 6:35) and such action in the face of evil has its effect in overcoming evil and turning hostility into friendship (Rom 12:20-21).
PRAYER: Forgive me, Father, for my lack of kindness. May I grow in my Saviour’ kindness.

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