“Taking someone’s word for it” is an idiom defined as “believing that something is true because someone tells you it is, without making sure that it really is true.”

Hmmm…sure sounds a bit like it parallels the definition of faith which is “confidence or trust in a person or thing; belief that is not based on proof.”

Taking someone for their word can be quite challenging these days…wouldn’t you agree?

I have seen this in my personal relationships with family and friends as well as in the business of professional baseball…Business because let’s face it…we learn real quick that baseball is a business!

We are challenged in taking someone for their word because of our lack of trust for one reason or another.

And due to this lack of trust we naturally look to signed contracts and binding documents to provide us with a sense of security and to satisfy our desire for integrity, honesty and truth.

I love the passage John 4:46-54 which truly exemplifies what it means to take a man for his word…and not just any man…but Jesus.

In this passage a royal official has a desperate need and travels 20 miles to ask Jesus to come and heal his dying son. (He walked 20 miles to seek Jesus! Right away this tells us something about this man’s faith!)

Even though the royal official begged Jesus to physically come to his sick son, Jesus did not go to the sick boy. He just stated that the boy will live and told the royal official to go home.

"Go," Jesus replied, "your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed. John 4:50

The royal official was probably challenged in his faith…who wouldn’t be?

But the royal official clearly demonstrates faith because he took Jesus at his word and departed. He trusted that Jesus could do what He claimed. He didn’t ask questions…he didn’t doubt.

Do you take Jesus for His word? Or do you question and doubt Him?

Not only did the royal official believe Jesus could heal…but he also demonstrated his faith through action by being obedient and returning home.

The royal official showed faith by his actions first…then he saw the miraculous healing of his son!

Sometimes we allow our disappointments in life and our lack of trust in man to translate into our relationship with Jesus and we find ourselves not trusting Him as we should.

We often say we believe Jesus can do this or do that…but we need to act as if He can! Jesus’ word alone is enough for us to trust Him!

This passage about the royal official’s faith truly exemplifies the kind of faith we should all desire. Faith is not always easy but no one ever said it was supposed to be easy.

Faith makes things possible, not easy. (Author Unknown)

Our faith will be challenged and stretched like this royal official’s faith but we will see our faith grow when we put it to action.

And in a world where we may lack trust and be challenged in taking a man’s word…we should find comfort in knowing that we can most certainly count on taking Jesus’ word…because His word is always true!

I pray that we may all be encouraged today to have greater trust in Jesus and take Him for His word!