“When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress” (Matthew 8:5-6).
A captain in the Roman army approached Jesus. The Romans were hated in Israel. It would be the same as an SS officer coming into the Jewish quarter during WWII. He came and asked Jesus for something. How dare someone like that approach Jesus!? But Our Lord loves us all, even those we consider an enemy. Let your heart be transformed so that you see others as the Lord sees them. Jesus showed us the way.
Lord, it does seem outrageous that You would entertain the petitions of what I believe to be your enemy because they are my enemy. But then, am I not your enemy every time I sin? Transform our hearts so that we see Your image in the other, for You have created us all in Your image. Guide my heart to see others as You see them. Move me from this world’s way of seeing things to see things as they truly are.
Lord Jesus, You did not join in what I can only imagine was the attitude of those who followed You. You allowed this Roman captain to come and make His request. Lead me to meet all whom I may encounter treating them with the same human decency I would like to be treated with if I were approaching You in a similar circumstance. Help me to see reality through Your eyes in all that I do. Amen.
