May 26, 2024 Devo

May 26th, 2024

“It’s All About Jesus!”
Jesus & the Roman Soldier’s Servant
Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour. – Matthew 8:13 (NLT)
“The Ingredients of a Miracle”

God is moved when we act and pray in selfless, sacrificial ways. Take a moment to consider this Roman officer who has come on behalf of his servant. First of all, the fact that he would care so deeply about a servant was unusual. Though servants were usually the ones who made trips on behalf of their masters, on this day the master made a trip on behalf of his servant. Then he exercises great faith in Christ’s ability to heal his servant without Jesus even having to come to his home. The heart, the effort, the faith—all of those are traits that are honored by God. And Jesus rewards the Roman officer by assuring him that his request has been answered.
To all of you who, in so many ways, stand in the gap for others, I hope this is of great encouragement today. God sees you. God hears you. God honors you. There are many of you who are serving as long-term caregivers. You have a spouse, child, or parent that needs care, and you are providing it. Your sacrifice for them is a sacred gift. Most people have no idea of the hours and effort that you put in on your loved one’s behalf. But God does. You are living out what Jesus meant when He said, “Greater love has no one than this: To lay down one’s life for a friend.” And YOU are laying down your life. One day at a time.
It’s also a reminder that God sees the faith and hears the prayers of those of you who cry out daily to him on behalf of someone you care about. You pray for their healing. You pray for their protection. You pray for their salvation. You pray for their deliverance. You need to know today that God hears you. The person you’re praying for may not believe. They may not know that you are praying for them. But God honors those who stand in the gap.
God saw the faith of the four friends who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus. God saw the faith of the Roman officer who came on behalf of his servant. And God sees YOUR faith, YOUR faithfulness, and YOUR heart for the one you love. Though it may seem like your prayers are not making a difference, I can assure you they are. Perhaps in ways that you can’t always see, and maybe in ways that you won’t understand. But love, sacrifice, and faith are powerful motivators for God. In fact, they are the ingredients for a miracle. That’s God’s Word for you today.