A Devout Servant

Bible Reading:  Matthew 8:1-13

Key Verse: Verse 9 - “For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.”

Key Words: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth;

As you read the story of the centurion, you find at least three main thoughts.

First of all, we see the centurion’s confession: “I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof (verse 8).”

Secondly, the centurion gives us a comparison.  He compares his authority with that of the Lord.

Third of all, we see his comrades and their total obedience to him.  The centurion states, “If I say go, they go; and if I say come, they come.  They are devoted to me.”  Is that not true, though, of real servants?  Are they not devoted to their master?  The one thing that makes a servant great is his devotion to his master.

John Kenneth Galbraith, in his autobiography, A Life in Our Times, illustrates the devotion of Emily Gloria Wilson, his family’s housekeeper: It had been a wearying day, and I asked Emily to hold all telephone calls while I had a nap.  Shortly thereafter the phone rang.  Lyndon Johnson was calling from the White House.  “Get me Ken Galbraith.  This is Lyndon Johnson.”  “He is sleeping, Mr. President.  He said not to disturb him.”  “Well, wake him up.  I want to talk to him.”  “No, Mr. President.  I work for him, not you.”  When I called the President back, he could scarcely control his pleasure.  “Tell that woman I want her here in the White House.”

 I wonder if the Lord says about us, “I want them as My servant.”

                                                                                        Dr. Mike Rouse    

What to do:

✞Be a servant that other servants admire.