Will You Come to Him?
Month 7: The Miracle Worker · Heart Matters
Today's Scripture
Read together: Matthew 8:5-13
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came and pleaded with Him, 6 “Lord, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony.” 7 “I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied. 8 The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.
Memory Verse
“This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.””— Matthew 8:17 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Psalms 119-122
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible — a 176-verse love song to God's Word.)The Heart of It
A Roman centurion came to Jesus for help. A centurion was an officer of the army occupying Israel. He wasn't a Jew. He wasn't religious. By every label of the day, he was an outsider. But his servant was suffering, so he came. And when Jesus offered to walk to his house, the centurion said something that stopped Jesus in His tracks. "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed." This soldier understood authority. He gave orders, and they were obeyed. And he believed Jesus had that same kind of authority over sickness. Jesus didn't even need to be in the room. One word would do it. Jesus "marveled," and said, "I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel."
Here's the heart of it. The centurion got near to Jesus not because he felt worthy, but because he believed Jesus was good and powerful. That's what faith really is. It's not feeling good enough. It's coming anyway and trusting Him. Some of us hang back from God. Maybe we feel like outsiders. Maybe we've messed up. Maybe we think we're not the religious type. But Jesus has never once turned away a person who came to Him in real trust. The question of this story lands on each of us tonight. Will you come to Him? Not when you've cleaned yourself up. Not when you finally feel worthy. Come now, just as you are, trusting that His word is enough.
Around the Table
A soldier knew Jesus was so powerful He could help just by saying a word. And Jesus did!
Let's do it: Whisper to Jesus right now, "I trust You. Please help." That's a prayer He loves.
The soldier felt "not worthy," but he came to Jesus anyway. What does it mean to trust Jesus even when you don't feel good enough?
Let's talk: Is there anything that makes you feel like you can't come to God? What would Jesus say to that?
Jesus praised an outsider's faith above Israel's. Faith isn't about your label or your record. It's about trusting His authority.
Let's go deeper: Have you come to Jesus yourself and trusted Him for yourself? Or are you still standing at a distance? What's holding you back?
💬 Conversation Starter
Who is someone you trust so much that if they said, "It's going to be okay," you'd believe it instantly? That's the kind of trust the centurion had in Jesus' word.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Some skeptics claim the church invented a Jesus who welcomed Gentiles only later on. But look here in Matthew. It's a thoroughly Jewish Gospel, and yet Jesus praises a Roman soldier's faith above Israel's. The Gospels keep details that would have been awkward to make up. That's a strong sign they're reporting what really happened.
For Dad · Go Deeper
Don't rush past Jesus' word "marveled." Scripture records only two things that amazed Jesus. One is great faith, which we see here. The other is stubborn unbelief (). He is moved by trust, including yours. This is where Wesleyan-Arminian theology shines warmly. Salvation truly comes "by grace through faith," and that faith is a real, free response God invites from every person. It is never forced. The centurion was not chosen ahead of time to believe while others were passed over. He was a genuine seeker who came, and Jesus genuinely received him. It's a living picture of "whoever comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (). Your job as a father is not to manufacture faith in your children's hearts. Only the Spirit does that. Your job is to keep setting Jesus before them as utterly trustworthy. And keep pressing the invitation gently home: will you come to Him? Then trust the Spirit to draw them, and to keep drawing you.
Draws on: Thomas Oden, The Transforming Power of Grace.
Let's Pray Together
"Lord Jesus, we don't come to You because we're good enough. We come because You are good and strong, and Your word is enough. We trust You. Heal what is broken in us and in the people we love. Thank You that You never turn away anyone who comes. In Jesus' name, amen."
I don't have to feel worthy to come to Jesus. I just have to come, trusting Him.