Faith

Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away." So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,`Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Mark 11:20-24 NKJ)

Is it perplexing to you how the same passages of Scripture can be so diversely interpreted by those who read them? I suppose that is because we come to the Scriptures from such diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and understanding. Perhaps spiritual maturity and Christian education also play their parts.

Then, of course, our Lord's words amaze us and cause us to question whether a believer can actually exercise the level of confident trust he taught. How much of the Lord's words apply to the physical and how much to the spiritual? Or is he speaking metaphorically altogether?

"Have faith in God," Jesus said. Can we only have faith in the spiritual realm? Or does our faith also affect the physical obstacles around us? Trying to figure things out may be more confusing, because the issue is faith in God. And neither faith nor God can be empirically explained, even by those who think they understand. The best we can know is that faith is both substance of hope and action toward our hope (Hebrews 11:1).

More than a billion Christians come to the Scriptures everyday and each of us bring our own personal issues. Some come rejoicing over victories won and mountains moved. Others come still affirming their faith in God's promises. And others even come skeptically, doubting the endless possibilities of God's power. The same book but diverse reactions and levels of faith.

This reminds me that faith is not about some thing or some philosophy or some theological concept and certainly not about some ability to speak desires into existence. Rather, faith is about someone and not just anyone. Faith that achieves results is that faith we place in God, because no one else can help us with the challenges in our lives. "My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:2 NKJ).

I must remember that people see things from different levels of comprehension. They read their own version of the same Bible and approach the same God, but with their own set of unique issues, circumstances and needs.

Dear Father, than you for being the One who helps us in all our troubles. Empower us with the assurance that your faithfulness to us endures. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN

Have faith in God today,