Faith. It seems like such a big word, doesn’t it? When I think of people who have faith, I think they must be spiritual giants. Or be able to face down giants like David did. I think of the “Hall of Faith,” in the book of Hebrews in the Bible. There are people like Noah, who listened to God rather than everyone around him; Abraham, who just up and followed God when he didn’t even know where God was taking him; and Jacob whose descendants became Israel! To say I get a little intimidated would be an understatement.
If I am in a situation requiring faith, and I start comparing my wavering little bit of faith to people like these, my tiny amount of faith can disappear. However, there is some good news for me, and for you if you feel this same way. The section in Hebrews does not end after touting all these Biblical heroes’ deeds of faith. It goes on to talk to us! Hebrews 11:40 says, “God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” And then Hebrews 12:1-2a goes on to say, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything, (such as fear) that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”
How great is that? Jesus Himself is the author of our faith, we don’t have to try to create faith on our own. We can cry out to Jesus honestly, and tell Him we need some faith. We do not need to be intimidated by people of faith, because they are the ones cheering us on. We don’t even need a large amount of faith to do amazing things either. Jesus said if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, some phenomenal things can happen. For David to take down a giant, it only took faith the size of a pebble!
“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.” Matthew 17:20-21
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