Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Matthew 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
You know that Jesus guy was a pretty smart fellow. Perhaps this is never more clear than in the verse above from Matthew. A mustard seed, one of the smallest of all seeds is defintely not a large amount to speak of. Yet Jesus boldly makes this statement that if we have enough faith in God to amount to the size of a mustard seed we can do anything.
So when is the last time you have ever stepped out into a range of mountains and said, "you there with the frosty peaks fall into the ocean?" Answer, never. Why is that? Because in the very act of walking out to tell the mountain to move or crumble we lose our mustard seed.
Think about it for a minute, why in the world would we ever tell a mountian to move, except for being lazy and not wanting to go over it. Because we want to test what Jesus said. Ahh, I see said the blind man. In the statement Jesus makes, he asks us to have faith in his power without testing the Him.
Luke 4:12
Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
I know it can be frustrating sometimes to follow and believe. Sometimes I just want to cry out, "one little hill God, just let me move the little hill a few inches and I'll believe." What would be the proof of our resolve though if every time we flipantly said move stone, it did just that? Then we are no better than those that do not believe in God. For those that do not believe in God believe in cars and trucks because they can see and touch them, they can say move truck and by pressing a petal it moves. Where is Faith if it requires a reaction for us to have it? That mustard seed is looking bigger all the time!
John 20:26-29 (After the death and resurrection of Jesus)
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
I was reading tonight in a devotion my church is doing about a statement from one of my favorite authors. Mark Twain said, "Faith is believeing in what you know ain't so." All reason says that an insignifacant man like me can't tell a moutain to move and it budge one millimeter. Reason says try it out and see if it works, see nothing.
Faith though says if you believe in God and you don't test just to see if God was telling the truth, when you really need that power it will be available.
Faith is not always easy, but then again allowing yourself to be nailed to a tree for the sins of a bunch of doubters like me couldn't have been very easy either.
Prayer: Jesus thank you for being so compassionate and loving. Thank you for being so understanding of our short comings and forgiving with such ease. Father, we come to you tonight as a bunch of Thomas like people who too often want proof instead of offering Faith. Help our doubting hearts to believe in your awesome power, help our minds to understand that the answer is sometimes that we can't comprehend your might or your ways. Thank you for all you have done and for what we, in daith, know you will continue to do. If it be your will, please bless us and use us to spread your word and to bring you glory. We love you Father, in Jesus name we pray, Amen.
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