Dear Christian friends:

We all like to have someone surprise us. One day a man surprised Jesus because he showed wonderful faith. Jesus said about his faith, "Truly I say unto you, Strong faith like this I have never found among the Jews."

The Roman soldier Captain surprised Jesus because of his wonderful faith. You and I also need strong faith. Very often we fail to believe God's Word and promises and therefore receive not His blessings. We worry and are afraid and do not go ahead with the Lord's work, because we believe not that He is with us and helps us.

So let us attend to our text and study the Roman Captains faith:

First of all, we see that the Roman soldier Captain had a humble faith. He came to Jesus and told Him that his servant was very sick. Jesus said, "I will come to your home and heal him." The Captain said, "Lord I'm not worthy, not good enough for You to come into my house." (verse 8)

So we must have a humble faith. Confess to God we are not worthy, not good enough for Him. That we really do not deserve His help because of our sins. Confess that we are in trouble and helpless and cannot help or save ourself. God wants to hear us humbly confess our sins and unworthiness and not trust in our own wisdom or strength. The Bible says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and don't depend on your own understanding."

Often we forget that, and think God owes us blessings and help because we are good. If trouble happens we complain and become bitter and blame God and other people. We maybe, even stop praying and think that's no use; Stop reading our Bible; stop going to Church. That can't help; think God doesn't care about me.

Don't be proud and displeased in time of trouble and sickness or losses. Thank God and praise Him also in sickness. Be humble and confess that you are not worthy and that you are a sinner.

But don't give up faith and hope. The Roman Captain did not give up faith and hope. He believed that Jesus' Words could command the sickness to leave his servant. He says, "Speak the word and my servant will be well." (verse 8b) He added, "I am under a chief captain and I have soldiers under me I speak one word to my soldiers and they obey my word. I say "Go!" and they go! I say, "Come!" and they come. I am only a man, but you are the mighty Son of God. If you say, "Go!" to that sickness it will obey you and leave my servant."

Then Jesus was very surprised to hear his wonderful faith. Also you and I must believe that Jesus is the Son of God who can help us in any trouble or problem. We must hear His words and commands and promises and then believe that it will happen as He says.

But where do we hear His Word's and promises? In the Bible, at Church etc. Maybe we do not hear His Word's enough and that's why we fail to believe and rejoice in Him.

In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus gives us a strong command and promise. He says, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and earth, Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe (obey) all things that I have commanded you. And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

Here we have His great mission command and promise to be with us and help us. Let us not give up, but believe and go! "To every lost soul Jesus says, Come to Me; to every believing soul Jesus says, "Go for Me." Let's believe Jesus' Words: Come to Him for forgiveness of sins and comfort and support! Then go for Him and do His work!

We need such a wonderful faith like the Captain. And remember, he was not a church member. He was a Roman. That's why Jesus was very surprised to see his strong faith. Jesus says, "I never found faith like his among the Jews." Then Jesus scolded and warned the Jews, the church members saying, "Many shall come from the east and west and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven." But you church members who do not believe will be thrown out into outer darkness etc. (Matthew 8:11-12)

So also Jesus wants to warn us. We are old church members like the Jews ago. Don't be a lazy and smug church member. Don't think, "I am baptized and confirmed. I'm a long-time Lutheran Church member. I will get saved and go to heaven." But that will not save you. Wake up and hear Jesus' mighty words and believe in him and obey His mission command "Go for Me!"

If you don't hear and believe and obey, you will, like the Jews be thrown into outer darkness on the judgment day, while others who were not Lutherans or long-time members believed and got saved.

May God help us to humbly believe and obey Jesus our Savior and Lord.

Amen.