"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." Matthew 17:20
When I was a young girl, I had a favorite necklace that I wore. It was a tiny mustard seed preserved inside a round, clear stone (somewhat like a marble) and then suspended from a gold chain. I got it at the Christian bookstore and cherished that simple little seed necklace because of what it reminded me of- that it only takes a little faith to move the mightiest of mountains.
Somehow, I think kids have an easier time grasping faith than adults. We often talk ourselves out of things, rationalize our positions, evaluate our own resources to make things happen; rather than rely on God as our ultimate source. Many times our choices leave us discouraged, miserable, and remorseful because we've lacked the faith to allow God's hand to be in total control of our lives. As my kids would say, "Sorry doesn't cut the mustard!"
Faith is something that cannot be overemphasized, especially in this present world. We all need more faith and it should be something we are fervently praying for. Faith is the core foundation of our relationship with Christ, not to mention a key sustaining factor in our Christian walk. We are often reminded that we are to walk by faith, not by sight. The question isn't how big the problem is that we are facing, but how big is our God? My Bible says that nothing is impossible with God. That's a huge statement, but do we believe it when times get tough?
How about those who had the privilege of walking with Jesus here on the earth? They must have been men and women of enormous faith, don't you imagine? Well, not exactly. They were men and women just like us who needed reminding now and again how awesome God really is. Jesus used the phrase "oh, ye of little faith" often in the New Testament when rebuking His disciples. In Matthew 6, Jesus told them they lacked faith for God's provision for clothing. He asked them to consider the lilies of the fields. God dressed them magnificently, yet He cares much for us than the flowers of the fields. Another time, when they were out on a ship and were confronted by a terrible storm, they cried to Jesus because they thought they would perish. Jesus asked them why they had such little faith. He rebuked the wind and the waves and they obeyed! Yet a different occasion, the disciples were sitting around talking about not having bread to eat and Jesus replied, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?"
Funny how those very topics are what hit most of mankind at one point or another: necessity of clothing, food, shelter/protection! I think God was trying to make a point in the gospels that are still relevant to us today in 2009!
Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes from the Word of God. If you want faith, you must exercise it; put it into action. Again, the verse said that we walk by faith not by sight. Our eyes need to get off the problem and onto Him. Walk forward in faith believing that God is faithful and just to bring about His plans in our lives.. and it takes very little of us... say, about the size of a mustard seed.
So, no matter what your situation is today, consider the question, "How big is your God?" Do you have enough faith - even as much as a mustard seed - to see the mountains in your life be cast into the sea?
Somehow, I think kids have an easier time grasping faith than adults. We often talk ourselves out of things, rationalize our positions, evaluate our own resources to make things happen; rather than rely on God as our ultimate source. Many times our choices leave us discouraged, miserable, and remorseful because we've lacked the faith to allow God's hand to be in total control of our lives. As my kids would say, "Sorry doesn't cut the mustard!"
Faith is something that cannot be overemphasized, especially in this present world. We all need more faith and it should be something we are fervently praying for. Faith is the core foundation of our relationship with Christ, not to mention a key sustaining factor in our Christian walk. We are often reminded that we are to walk by faith, not by sight. The question isn't how big the problem is that we are facing, but how big is our God? My Bible says that nothing is impossible with God. That's a huge statement, but do we believe it when times get tough?
How about those who had the privilege of walking with Jesus here on the earth? They must have been men and women of enormous faith, don't you imagine? Well, not exactly. They were men and women just like us who needed reminding now and again how awesome God really is. Jesus used the phrase "oh, ye of little faith" often in the New Testament when rebuking His disciples. In Matthew 6, Jesus told them they lacked faith for God's provision for clothing. He asked them to consider the lilies of the fields. God dressed them magnificently, yet He cares much for us than the flowers of the fields. Another time, when they were out on a ship and were confronted by a terrible storm, they cried to Jesus because they thought they would perish. Jesus asked them why they had such little faith. He rebuked the wind and the waves and they obeyed! Yet a different occasion, the disciples were sitting around talking about not having bread to eat and Jesus replied, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?"
Funny how those very topics are what hit most of mankind at one point or another: necessity of clothing, food, shelter/protection! I think God was trying to make a point in the gospels that are still relevant to us today in 2009!
Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes from the Word of God. If you want faith, you must exercise it; put it into action. Again, the verse said that we walk by faith not by sight. Our eyes need to get off the problem and onto Him. Walk forward in faith believing that God is faithful and just to bring about His plans in our lives.. and it takes very little of us... say, about the size of a mustard seed.
So, no matter what your situation is today, consider the question, "How big is your God?" Do you have enough faith - even as much as a mustard seed - to see the mountains in your life be cast into the sea?
