How big is your faith? If you could measure it in a 1-gallon glass jug, where would your faith-line land? All the way to the top? Half way full? Somewhere closer to the bottom? Depends on the situation?
In the last year or so I have come to have a whole new appreciation for what we call the faith chapter, Hebrews 11.
I love how I am reminded of so many people that had deep-rooted faith; some from the old testament, some from the new. Each name representing a tremendous story of faith and trust in God. It is rich with history! I encourage you to quickly read verses 1-40.
You will be reminded of Abel. We looked Friday at that story and the expression Land of Nod. Able was Adam and Eve’s second son. He was the younger brother of Cain, and Cain killed Abel when Abel offered a better sacrifice to the Lord.
By the way, there is another common saying that we get from that story. It’s “Am I my brother’s keeper?”, and it’s found in Genesis 4:9, “and the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel they brother? And he said, I know not; Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Such a tragic turn of events. Cain committed the first murder by killing his brother, he then lied to The Almighty and then brushed it away with a remark that people still use today.
Back to the Faith Chapter. You will read about the faith of Enoch. Noah. Abraham. Sarah. Isaac. Jacob. Joseph. Moses. Rahab. Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah. David. And Samuel.
Faith that could move mountains. And that brings us to today’s idiom.
The concept that faith can move mountains is retold a number of times in the Bible. Let’s look at them in no particular order.
A man had approached Jesus and knelt in front of Him, begging Him to have mercy on his son who had severe epilepsy. The man told Jesus that he had brought his son to the disciples, but they could not heal him. And then we read Matthew 17:17-20:
“And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” – ESV
The next recording, again not in any particular order, is the lesson from the withered fig tree and for this we go to Mark chapter 11 verses 20-25.
“As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” – ESV
Matthew also recorded this story in chapter 21 verses 18-22.
“...And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” – ESV
The disciples, no doubt understanding their weakness and lack-of, proclaimed in Luke 17:5, “…Increase our faith!”
“And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” Luke 17:6 ESV
That is quite a visual. I don’t know of any land plant, that once plucked from its soil, could survive in the saltiness of the ocean, but that is what faith is all about. Taking an impossible situation, with Faith in Christ, and making it possible.
Let’s, finish by including the love chapter. We started with the Faith chapter; let’s end with Love.
1 Corinthians 13 is repeated many times at weddings. We know it, right? Love is patient and kind; does not envy; does no boast; is not arrogant or rude; does not insist on its own way…etc. Very important attributes.
But I think it’s verses 1 and 2 that are the most important!
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
Friend, faith is important. We are told in Hebrews 11:6 that it is impossible to please God without it. But that is not the most important thing; this is.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 NIV
So, while faith can move mountains; love makes the world a better place to live in.
At the beginning I asked you how big is your faith? It was a bit of a trick question, because if I have all the faith, enough faith to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. Don't forget to love.
by Jeanette Stark – Monday, July 10, 2023
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