One Year Bible - March 1
Scriptures to read:
Matthew 8:14-34; Leviticus 1-2; Proverbs 19
You probably heard Christians say that if you have enough faith, your prayers will be answered. Or if we really believe and have strong faith, God can accomplish his purposes. The implication is if we don’t possess a certain amount of faith, God will not answer our prayers or we will hinder the work of God in us.
The passage in one of our Scripture reading today gives us some insight into the question – Does the amount of faith we have determine whether God answers our prayers or whether or not God can accomplish his purposes.
In Matt.8:23-27, Jesus sets out on a boat with his disciples and suddenly there was a great storm that threatens to sink the boat. They woke Jesus up who was sleeping inside the cabin crying out to save them. Upon awakening, Jesus said to them, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” and proceeds to calm the storm. And the men marveled at what had happened.
Jesus describes these disciples as men not of “no faith” but of “little faith”. In the Greek, it means ineffective, defective or deficient faith. Although their faith was not where it should be, Jesus still answered their plea. Later in Matt. 17, Jesus said even if you have a faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for us to do.
Because of God’s grace, I can go to him no matter how big or small my faith is. We just need to take that step. But even a mustard seed does not stay small! Mustard trees can grow up to 30 ft tall! God expects us to grow in our faith and trust in Him! Rick Warren said, “You don’t need great faith to make it through the storm in your life. You just need faith in the right person – Jesus Christ.” Growing faith is evidence/result of a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 19:23 says the fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble. The disciples in the boat did not yet comprehend who Jesus was…the Messiah. My prayer for us is to know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge so that we will be made complete with the fullness of God and then we may have faith to move even mountains!
Memory Verse: The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble. - Proverbs 19:23
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of prayer…that we can come to you just as we are… yet clothed in the righteousness of Christ. May your Holy Spirit give us the power and guidance to know you Lord Jesus more each day so that our faith and trust in you will grow daily.
