A couple of centurions are mentioned in the Bible, and mostly in a positive light. The one that stood by at the crucifixion of Jesus confessed that He was the son of God when he saw the earthquake. The one whose story is found in Acts 10 lived a devoted life of fasting, praying, and giving. This one in our text showed compassion when his servant was sick. Besides, he was full of faith, so strong a faith that Jesus commended that his type was not even found in Israel. How did the centurion express his faith that brought such commendation? It was by what he said. He noted that Jesus did not have to come to his house to get the servant healed, but that a word from Him would take care of it.

It is true that the Bible says that faith without work is dead; only we need to be reminded that sometimes the work required is no more than speaking affirmatively.

There is what the Bible describes as the spirit of faith. “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,” II Corinthians 4:13 NKJV. Two things are wrapped into what is called the spirit of faith. There is the believing aspect, which is followed by verbal expression. When Jesus offered to go to the centurion’s house, he declined. He understood how authority works. He believed Jesus could speak his servant back to health, and that’s what happened. It is true that the Bible says that faith without work is dead; only we need to be reminded that sometimes the work required is no more than speaking affirmatively.