Sunday, January 10, 2010

Faith in a Limitless God

Luke 17:5-6 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.

Sometimes, I forget just how limitless Jesus is. He has calmed storms, healed lepers, turned water into wine, turned darkness into light, and made a sinner like me holy. He says that whatever I ask for in His name, He will give me. He says that, by His name, I can plant a mulberry tree in the sea. Why do I shortchange his power despite all evidence?
In Mark 9, a Philippian man brings his son, who is possessed by a demon, to Jesus. He says to Jesus, "If you can do anything, help us.” Jesus responds "If I can? Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the man exclaims, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" In response to that request, Jesus heals his son.
The people of Nazareth lacked faith too, but, unlike the father in Philippi, they did not ask for more of it. In Matthew 13, "Jesus said to them, 'Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.' And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith."
I feel like Jesus’ “hometown” is now in my heart. If I lack faith in His power, He will not do many miracles there. But if I ask for more faith, then I see many miracles. Ephesians 2:8 says that our faith is not from ourselves. It is a gift from God. Like the man at Philippi in Mark 9 and like the disciples in Luke 17, we should ask Jesus to give us the gift of faith.

3 comments:

Gail said...

I love this blog! Faith is a subject dear to my heart. My favorite verse on faith is Mark 11:22-24. Especially verse 24 "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them(past tense),and they will be granted you." That's perfect faith-believing that what you've asked for is already done!

Writing down your answered prayers and referring to them often also helps to build your faith. You can see how many times God has been faithful to you.

By the way, today is the 11th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEATHER!!!!! You're special-you were my answered prayer for Chris! :)

Heather Paige said...

Oh i like that verse too. I actually just mailed this devo into the Upper Room Devotional Book/Magazine. I should have put that verse in as the Daily Reading. I hope it gets published. if not, well, I tried. :)

Gail said...

Oh I'm so glad you mailed it to them. I hope it gets published. It's definitely worth it!!