A Little Faith

Matthew 17:19 – 21 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

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.”

Jesus had given the disciples the authority to do all the things Jesus could do. But when a man brought his little boy to them, asking them to heal him from seizures, and drive out a demon, they couldn’t.

So, the man took his son to Jesus, and the boy was healed.

The disciples were confused. “Jesus, why can’t we do the things you can do?”

I’m not sure Jesus was scolding the disciples, as much as he was instructing them. He knew they were new at this. But they needed to understand.

“You must have faith,” he told them. “With even a tiny amount of faith, you can work miracles.”

I wonder if the disciples were just confused about what they were supposed to do. They knew Jesus had given them authority to work miracles. Perhaps they thought He had given them the power to do it themselves. Perhaps they thought they now had the divine ability to do what only God can do.

I don’t know. But I do know that unless we put our faith in the right place, we will never unleash God’s power. God is willing to move heaven and earth for us, but He wants to get the glory. If we place huge amounts of faith in human ability or money or strength or political power or anything other than God, we are missing the mark. But even the tiniest bit of faith, placed in an all-powerful, all-knowing, almighty, holy God will bring about miracles.

I’m just as guilty as those disciples. I believe in God. I have faith in Him, until it is crunch time. And then, I start worrying and fretting and work-work-working and trying to solve this problem or that one with my own ability. When push comes to shove, I put more faith in money or human strength or human power. And I leave God out of the picture.

I don’t know why I keep making the same mistakes. After all, I can tell you of countless times when I did put my faith in the right place, and God showed up. He worked miracles, because I believed He would work miracles.

Jesus had patience, and didn’t give up on his disciples. Instead, He gently instructed them, as they grew in their understanding of what faith can produce. I’m so glad He is patient with me, too.

Dear Father, Please forgive me for placing my faith in the wrong things. I want to place faith in You alone, for I know You alone have the power to work miracles.

Amen