Find & Follow Jesus, Quarter 4Sample

Devotional:

“When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, ‘I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.’” – Luke 7:9 (NIV)

In all of the Gospels, there are only a couple of moments where Jesus is described as being amazed. One is when people lack faith (Mark 6:6), and the other is right here—when a Roman centurion displays extraordinary faith. The centurion's faith was extraordinary because he believed that Jesus could heal his servant with just a word. He didn’t need a sign, a touch, or even Jesus to come to his house. For some reason, he recognized Jesus’ authority and trusted in it fully.

This centurion wasn’t a religious insider. He was a Gentile, a Roman soldier—an outsider by all cultural and spiritual standards. Yet Jesus points to him as a model of great faith. Why? Because faith isn’t about how long you’ve attended church, what position you serve in at your church, or how much Scripture you can quote. It’s about trusting in who Jesus is.

Jesus was amazed not by the man’s power or status, but by his humility and trust. The centurion understood something that many miss: Jesus has ultimate authority, and His word is enough. This story reminds us that our faith can move the heart of God. You don’t have to have it all figured out—you just need to trust that Jesus does. And when you take Him at His word, even in the hardest moments, that faith honors Him deeply.

Prayer:

Jesus, I want faith that is extraordinary, too. Not because it makes me look good, but because I want to see the fruit of that kind of faith in my life. Help me to grasp that you have ultimate authority in life, and that Your word is enough.