day no. 16,653: oh, for the faith of the slave-owners

Matthew 8:5-10

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 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. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

The Roman centurion was a master of men at home and on the battlefield. He was a man of war and a manager of people. He owned slaves and trained soldiers. And he had more faith than anyone else Jesus ever met. He had more faith in his slave-owning heart than most modern day abolitionists. He was a kindred spirit to the slave-owning Philemon who loved the Lord and served Him. He was a good master because he was, himself, a good slave. He sought the security and prosperity of his servants. He loved well those who served him well.