Mustard Seed Faith Devotional

Mustard Seed Faith

January 27, 2013

Matthew 17:14-20

At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said,  “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.  So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”  Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”  Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.  Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”  “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.

            Jesus had just come down from the mountaintop.  He has experienced a phenomenal supernatural event.  The Son of God living out the Mission of God had His work affirmed in a powerful way.  Now he goes down and finds sickness.  He finds his disciples unable to do his work in his name.  Jesus is upset.  Jesus heals the boy.  Jesus has harsh words for his chosen disciples.  Jesus calls his disciples faithless and corrupt.  They were not doing what Jesus had given them the power to do.  The boy’s father on the other hand, has great faith.  Despite the public failings of the disciples, he still believes in Jesus. 

            Faith moves mountains.  If you have faith enough, all difficulties can be solved, and even the hardest task can be accomplished.  Faith in God is the instrument which enables people to remove the hills of difficulty which block their path.  Faith doesn’t back down.  It doesn’t fade or go away.  Are there mountains in your way?  What does your faith look like?  Has it changed things?  Do you believe Jesus can change things?  Will you have faith?  Will you follow Christ?  Let’s do the Lord’s work and have faith.

Foundations of Faith Devotional

Foundations of Faith

January 20, 2013

Psalm 62:5-8

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,

for my hope is in him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress where I will not be shaken.

My victory and honor come from God alone.

He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.

O my people, trust in him at all times.

Pour out your heart to him,

for God is our refuge.

No matter what…I will wait on the Lord

No matter what…He will be my rock and my salvation

No matter what…God’s people must trust in Him

The times we live in are difficult.  The troubles we face cause us to have questions and doubts.  We desire to live right lives yet often feel unable to live up to that standard.  We want to make a difference in the world only to struggle with those who seem unwilling to listen or have their hearts set on doing wrong.  We are pressured to do things we do not like, accept things we do not agree with, and stay quiet when we need to speak out. 

This is not new.  The Psalmist knows a similar struggle.  He also knows the way to deal with that struggle.  Silence before God, Hope in the Lord, and Strength from the Rock, Fortress, and Salvation.  In a world filled with struggles, the Lord is a safe place.  In a world full of shifting, unacceptable, and often unrealistic expectations the Lord remains constant, solid, and firm.  Through Him comes victory and honor…no matter what. 

What does our faith rest on?  Is it tradition?  Is it other people?  Or is it truly the Lord?  Pour out your hearts to God.  Give to Him all that you are and you will discover the Rock of salvation and life.  What would it look like for you to take refuge in Him today?

Faith at Work Devotional

Faith at Work

January 13, 2013

James 1:19-25

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.  Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.  So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.  But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.  For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.  But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Faith changes the way we live.  How many of us have ever been angry?  How many of us have been angry for little or no reason?  Anger doesn't produce the life God has called us to live.  Faith isn't angry.  Faith leads us to compassion.  Faith seeks understanding.  Faith listens and responds as God listens and responds.  So let’s get rid of all the stuff that pulls us away from the life God has called us to live. Let’s look beyond anger and find compassion.  Let’s live a righteous life.

James is clear.  Listening isn't enough.  Faith takes action.  Faith is seen and known.  Faith produces fruit.  When we claim faith but don’t act we look a little silly.  It’s like looking in the mirror and forgetting what you look like.  It’s hearing the Word of God at church, agreeing with it, and leaving without putting any of God’s Word into practice.  Here is the thing.  Listening and obeying God’s Word has the power to save our souls.  It sets us free.  It brings blessing into our lives.  Faith at work connects us to God in meaningful ways every day.  Our lives expand.  We understand more.  We are able to act rightly when before we might have let other things, like anger, control our actions.  We are able to make a significant and holy contribution to this world.  Let’s put our faith to work.

Having Faith Devotional

Having Faith

January 6, 2013

Hebrews 11:1-2

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 

Faith.  What is it?  It seems like most of the time when we talk about faith we could use the word belief in its place.  Belief and faith are not the same.  Belief speaks to knowledge.  It is what I value and hold on to as Truth.  Faith speaks to action.  In Hebrews, this definition is followed by a long list of people who lived out their faith in different ways.  Belief might cause us to have opinions, but it doesn’t take action.  Faith acts.  Faith is more powerful than belief.  Faith opens us up to the great work of God in us and around us. 

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Faith changes over time.  It develops as we run the race of life.  Jesus is the one true example of faith in practice.  His faith led him to the cross.  His faith led him through shame.  His faith enabled him to do what no one else could.  He ran the race perfectly.  We need to run our race.  You can’t run from the couch.  Running requires choice and action.  It requires training.  It takes endurance.  It can only be done well by a willing heart.

Hear the invitation in this scripture.  Hebrews 11 gives us example after example of faith.  Hebrews 12 asks us to be an example like those who have come before.  The reward is great.  Jesus sits at the right hand of God.  His joy is complete.  Let’s follow Him.