Mustard Seed Faith

"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."

Matthew 17:20

Christians understandably honor people of great faith. I remember when I was a boy being wowed by missionaries who had gone into desolate and sometimes dangerous places to tell others about Jesus. What amazing faith they had!

The downside of our applauding people of great faith is that it can make the rest seem like second-class Christians. If we struggle with doubts, or if we're sometimes reticent to step out in obedience to Christ, we can feel as if we don't measure up . . . and never will.

For those of us who struggle with faith, there is plentiful encouragement in this passage from Matthew. On the one hand, we see that even the disciples who were closest to Jesus sometimes fell short in the faith category. Yet Jesus still chose them to be his closest followers. On the other hand, Jesus said that faith as small as a tiny mustard seed was enough to accomplish miracles. Though we might never have the kind of faith that impresses boys in church, our faith still counts for a lot with God.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Do you sometimes struggle with your faith? Why? Do you have at least a mustard seed's amount of faith?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I can so readily relate to the disciples in this story. Though they had been authorized to perform wonders, when faced with a sturdy challenge, their faith faltered. How much like me!

Yet I am encouraged that you chose these men to be disciples in spite of their limitations. If you wanted them, then you might just want me too. How wonderful!

Moreover, though I'm no paragon of faith, I do have at least a mustard seed's amount of faith. I do trust you, even if I waver. I have put my life in your hands. And, however inconsistently, I continue to trust you with each day. Thank you for helping me to have faith in you. Amen.