For I myself am a man under authority. (Luke 7:8)
Some observers of history consider Margaret Thatcher to be the second-greatest British prime minister of the twentieth century behind Winston Churchill. Mrs. Thatcher dressed well, preferring tailored suits of solid violet, navy blue, or forest green. According to Professor James Humes, she appointed no female to her cabinet and preferred to be the only woman in the room.
Humes suggests even her handbag carried a degree of authority. When her cabinet arrived for a meeting at 10 Downing Street on one occasion, the prime minister was not there. However, her huge handbag sat in the middle of the table. “No one spoke,” Humes declares. “The handbag dominated them.”
While running the risk of seeming frivolous by comparing Thatcher’s handbag to the authority of a centurion, nevertheless, I point out that people who have authority recognize it when they see it. And the centurion saw it in Jesus. In fact, the centurion was so convinced of Jesus’ authority over sickness that he believed the carpenter from Nazareth did not even need to be in the same room as the afflicted person to heal that person. It could be done remotely.
Jesus rewarded that confidence in his authority by healing the centurion’s servant.
How is your faith in God’s authority to heal? Be assured, there is no problem for which he does not have the solution. You can trust him.
Put your faith in Jesus’ authority over sickness of all kinds.
Ron McClung is a recently retired minister in The Wesleyan Church. He and his wife, Carol, live in Michigan and look forward to spending time with their two sons, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
© 2022 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
