MIGHTY faith vs SMALL faith!

 I am short. 

As a young boy and a teenager, size matters. I am a SUPER-COMPETITIVE person and I always thought, "Why would God put this super-competitive person in such an inadequate vessel to compete?" I was fast, as a kid, but my size was a huge problem for Basketball and Football, my two favorite sports. As I became an adult, running was a good outlet for my competitiveness and then coaching. But, God knew what he was doing. I have learned throughout my life that sometimes my competitiveness is NOT AN ASSET but more of a hindrance. My competitiveness needs to be focused in the right way, to the right goals, and for the glory of GOD, not for me and my accolades.

As I have been studying the MUSTARD SEED over these past several weeks, I have realized the SIZE of the mustard seed was only part of the FOCUS on this plant. The MIGHTY MUSTARD SEED is not just mighty because of its small beginning. It is also mighty because of what it becomes. This little seed grows into a plant that dominates the garden. It will overrun all the other plants in the garden and it will house birds of all types in its branches. It becomes SIGNIFICANT despite its size and beginning. 

"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." (Matthew 17:18-20, ESV)

Notice in this translation it says FAITH LIKE a mustard seed and not faith as SMALL as a mustard seed. This is a weakness of the NLT. No other version uses AS SMALL AS A MUSTARD SEED. As a matter of fact, Jesus has just chastised the disciples for having a SMALL AMOUNT of FAITH. It is NOT a good thing to have a small limited view of faith. It wasn't good for the disciples and it is not good for us. 

Our faith is supposed to be like the mighty mustard seed because that seed grows when it is planted. It spreads to all the nearby soil, it grows DEEP toward GOD and it grows up and out so much so that it cares for others like the birds in its branches. THE FAITH of the MUSTARD SEED GROWS TO BE MIGHTY with GREAT INFLUENCE. 

THAT is the kind of mustard seed faith we are supposed to have. WEAK FAITH is NOT an ASSET. It is NOT WHAT JESUS IS PROMOTING. Our faith should be mighty. Our faith should be powerful, not because of who we are, but because of WHO WE HAVE FAITH IN!

Heavenly Father, I seek your forgiveness for my weak faith. There are so many times I limit you and what you can do. Forgive me Lord. Help my faith the grow, to realize your power, your might, and your strength to make all things possible. I love you and I praise you for the patience you have with this weak vessel. Amen!

HOW MIGHTY IS YOUR FAITH?

What current challenge do you need to trust God with, believing that he can move mountains?

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"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:9-10, ESV)

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