The Joy of the Sovereign Word: Day 12 of Joy
He has all authority.
‘Lord,’ the centurion replied, ‘I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, “Go,” and he goes; and to another, “Come,” and he comes...’ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with so much faith.’ — Matthew 8:8-10 CSB
We sometimes feel anxiety because we think our joy is at the mercy of a boss’s mood, a doctor’s report, or the chaos of the world. There is an assumption that if we can’t see a solution, one doesn’t exist.
But the Roman centurion in Matthew 8 understood things differently. He recognized that Jesus didn’t need to be physically present to change a situation. He didn’t need to “walk on waves” to the centurion’s house to fix the problem. Why? Because He has all authority.
The centurion saw that Jesus wasn’t just a teacher; He was the Commander of creation. This is the unsinkable foundation of our joy: The Word of Jesus is the highest law in the universe. When He speaks, reality must adjust. The reality for us today is that we don’t have to manage the outcome of our struggles. We serve a Savior whose “Go” and “Come” are obeyed by every molecule and every circumstance. You can be carefree in the middle of a storm because the One who loves you is the same One who has authority over the wind.
The 90/10 Rule of Authority
[read this article to learn more about the 90/10 rule]
The 10%: The problem that seems out of control, the sickness, the conflict, or the broken situation that you can’t reach or fix.
The 90%: The authority of Jesus’ Word. He doesn’t need to be visible to be active; He just needs to “say the word.”
If you focus on the 10 percent, you will live in a state of constant beating by your circumstances. But when you give the 90 percent of your attention to His sovereign authority, you find joy. Your situation is not the boss of you; Jesus is the boss of your situation.
What is the one thing in your life today that feels out of control? Instead of trying to fix it with your own diligence, bring it to the Commander. Acknowledge His authority over that specific detail and say: “Lord, I trust Your Word over this situation.” Let the joy of His sovereignty replace the weight of your worry.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I praise You because You have all authority in heaven and on earth. I confess that I often act as if my problems are bigger than Your Word. Today, I surrender my out-of-control situations to Your command. Speak Your word of peace, healing, and direction into my life. I find my joy in knowing that You are in charge. Amen.
View all messages in the series at: www.faithsaves.us/t/joy-series-faith-saves-us