As You Have Believed
“As you have believed.” This phrase stuck out to me a few days ago during my morning reading and I’ve been dwelling on it since. The Gospel is a story that’s filled with grace – getting what we don’t deserve. We live in a world that’s so used to transactions, and repayments, and tit-for-tat. The Good News isn’t like that, but we see an interesting story in Matthew Chapter 8.
Jesus has just finished His famous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and has entered the city of Capernaum when a Roman centurion (commander) approaches Him. This centurion reveals to Jesus that his servant is paralyzed and suffering. Jesus agrees to return to the man’s house to heal the servant.
It’s what happens next that’s astounding, not only to us but also to Jesus. The centurion tells Jesus that he’s not worthy to have Him come into his house, but Jesus needs only to say the word and the servant will be healed. He goes on to tell Jesus that he is a man of authority as well. When he speaks, his words are obeyed.
Jesus finds Himself amazed at the man’s faith. Keep in mind, this is not a Jewish man. This is a Gentile that’s merely heard the words of Jesus, the difference between him and so many any others is this – he actually believed.
It’s here that Jesus fulfills the man’s request. He tells the centurion “’Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.’ And the servant was healed at that very moment (Matthew 8:13). This sentence of Jesus’ has challenged me greatly these past few days.
Because see, the centurion had to walk home. He didn’t know for certain whether his servant had been healed yet. What was that walk like? Did he ever doubt? Would you have? This man’s faith is astounding. Even if I had the conviction that Jesus ought not to have stepped foot in my house, I still would have had Him at least walk with me to the property line, just in case some extra healing power was needed. But no, this man fully trusted the Word of God.
“As you have believed.” I began to wonder, what if I were to receive exactly what I was believing for. If, somehow, the extent of my belief was to show up in a package at the front door, what would be there? Would there even be anything in it?
It’s easy to use your words and say you believe something, it’s whole other thing to truly believe it in your heart. This is where I’m wanting to land the plane. Friend, if Jesus were to look you in the face today and grant you exactly “as you have believed,” would you like what shows up?
If you’re anything like me, that question is sobering. I still have doubts and questions in the deeper parts of my heart. Wherever you may find yourself in your current state of belief, I want to encourage you – ask for faith. Tell God exactly where you’re at and ask Him for a deeper revelation of who He is. Let’s walk in a way that if given “as we have believed” we would receive not an empty box but one filled with the Person of Jesus.
