Then Jesus told the centurion, “Go. As you have believed, let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that very moment. Matthew 8:13
In the early 1990s we moved into a little subdivision tucked into a few Tennessee foothills. Being a runner, I found a wonderful, winding, 5.5-mile road for running. It provided just enough terrain and scenery to make it interesting but not so much that I’d become discouraged by its difficulty.
The only thing I didn’t like about this run was the dog living between miles three and four. He was a husky, gray with crystal blue eyes and mean—angry and mean. Sometimes he’d be standing on the road where I could see him as I approached. At other times he’d be hiding behind a tree or a barn, just waiting to scare me. When I got to a certain spot on the road, he’d come charging—barking and snarling as if I were some specially flavored dog treat.
I hated this dog. I plotted his demise. Then I decided to buy a can of Mace. Yes! I can spray Mace in his nasty face, and he’ll never chase me again. I’ll get that vicious animal. I’ll teach him who’s boss around these hills.
But before I had a chance to buy the Mace, I bumped into the guy who lives at the end of our street. Although we had never run together, I knew he was a runner, too. I asked if he knew about my 5.5-mile course. He said he did. I asked him if he had seen the husky. He said he had. I asked if the dog had charged him the way he charged me. “At first he did,” my neighbor said.
“At first?” I returned.
“Yes, until one day I decided to stop running for a moment,” he replied. “I squatted down in the middle of the road and petted him. Then I gave him a dog biscuit that I had tucked into my running shorts before leaving the house. The dog rolled over on his back, begging me to scratch his belly. Now I look forward to seeing my friend when I run.”
I felt so stupid—so ashamed of myself. My neighbor, without knowing it, had taught me a powerful lesson in kindness.
The Jews who followed Jesus were about to learn something about faith from an unlikely person—a Roman military officer. This “pagan” soldier came to Jesus, asking the Savior to heal his ailing servant. Feeling unworthy to have Jesus under his roof, the soldier told the Savior, “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed” (v. 8).
Jesus was astonished by this Gentile’s faith. In fact, He turned to the Jews who were standing around Him and said to them, “I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith” (v. 10). The Jews must have been mortified. This guy was a pagan, and he was showing them up.
God has a lot to teach us. Some of it will come by way of traditional means—reading His Word, listening to our ministers teach, or when we pray. But some of the lessons are going to come from unexpected places like huskies at mile three. Or desperate Gentile soldiers. Listen carefully. His truth will show up in all kinds of unusual forms. Be humble and pay attention. And pray that when you do hear, you’ll swallow your pride and have the kind of bold faith that will please Jesus.