“Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and be…” — Matthew 13:31-32
“Then the disciples came to Jesus privately
and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Because of
your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard
seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will
move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go
out except by prayer and fasting.’” – Matthew 17:19-21
“‘But if You [Jesus] can do anything, have
compassion on us and help us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all
things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child
cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’” – Mark
9:22-24
“But He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Why are you
fearful, O you of little faith?’ Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the
sea, and there was a great calm.” – Matthew 8:26
I had a conversation with a friend recently who
is struggling with discerning God’s leading. I sense that God is about to take
him in a direction that is fraught with uncertainty and natural risk. By
natural risk I mean that those things that we depend upon – like certainty of income
– and a clear path to follow are two things that precursors for many to follow
God. We want to know before we go. The idea of prostrating yourself at the foot
of the Cross is a very lofty, spiritual thought. But – when you are faced with
the reality of totally depending upon God’s provision – which you may not be able
to see at the point where you begin the journey – well that is a horse of a different
color!
I started this post with four verses that have to
do with faith and the challenge of unbelief.
It is one thing to talk about faith and a wholly different thing to
exercise faith. Very often we are
willing to trust God in eternal matters, but hesitate when we must trust Him
with earthly ones. Jesus made it clear
that faith starts small and it takes deliberate effort for it to grow. Faith
must be exercised to grow. Like the nation if Israel considering that there
were giants in the land when they refused to cross the river the first time. They
could trust God for some things – but their fear was stronger than their
faith. They lost sight of God and His
power and His provision and trusted in their own – which was no match for
giants.
The disciples in the boat – the same
problem. The man with the sick son – the
same. My friend struggling with stepping onto the path that God has made clear –
the same. Me at nearly 71 years old at a cross roads – again! The same. Perhaps
you with something that is going on in your life. You may feel weak –
vulnerable – at risk if you do what God has made plain to you. If you are a Christian
then you are on a faith walk – or not. You may decide to not step into the
river but to wander and wonder instead. The journey is full of uncertainty –
opportunity to trust in your own strength and wisdom. Hearing God and knowing
what He has said and still saying “Yes – but!”
I am not suggesting that you test God – but that you trust God. The
essence of faith. Resist the temptation to cram God into your natural understanding
and ways. Not possible.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call
upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous
man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And
to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor
are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.’”
– Isaiah 55:6-9
Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it –
Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His
Glory Alone
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