1 Chronicles 26, 27; 2 Peter 1; Micah 4; Luke 13

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.”  Luke 13:18-19

“Your faith is shallow and superficial.”  Those were the words that a family member sent flying in my direction.  The words cut to the core and I was ashamed. I knew that there was a kernel of truth there.  Those words weren’t meant to encourage me to grow in faith. The statement was an indictment. I had been measured and found wanting.

Those words burned within for a month.  After all, I live in my own skin. I know the thoughts that rumble around in my head. I know my motives are often impure.  Like Peter, there are times when I choose to deny Christ.  I felt that I had let Jesus down. Then healing came. God took hold of my heart one morning and reminded me of the mustard seed. What he spoke was basically this, “Kathy, your faith in me is beautiful no matter how weak or how strong it is. I died to make your faith complete. I love you.”

So simple, but this is a lesson God never tires of teaching me over and over again. He has won the battle for my heart. His love, his grace are more powerful than my incomplete efforts.  I can rest in that.

Peter, who knew what it meant to deny Christ, offers  these words of encouragement, “To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter 1:1-2

Philippians 1:6;  Ephesians 2:8

Kathy

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Genesis 16; Matthew 15; Nehemiah 5; Acts 15

…They heard the Good News from me, and they believed. God, who knows the thoughts of everyone, accepted them. He showed this to us by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. To God, those people are not different from us. When they believed, he made their hearts pure. Acts 15: 7b-9 (NCV)

I love the grace that God extends to me. He has no logical reason to care about my life, except that He loves me beyond all reason. He sent His Son to die and rise again for me to make me pure and give me an everlasting life with Him. He made my black heart pure, white as snow. He accepts me as I am, flaws, faults, and all. He is not mad at me. He wants to bless me and give me good things.

I can look at all of the stories in the Bible and know beyond a shadow of doubt that I am not alone in who He cares for. He cares for everyone who is birthed on this planet, and even those who never had the chance to live. Every man, woman, and child, in the history of time, with the exception of Christ, lived a life full of selfish moments, angry emotions, bitter thoughts, and sinful actions. And yet as they experienced His love, even in a time when the Cross at Calvary was only a figment in God’s mind, they were restored and blessed.

Jesus answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs.”

The woman said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! I will do what you asked.” Matthew 15:26-28a (NCV)

He yearns to be involved in my life and experience my faith, whether it is as huge as a mountain or as small as a mustard seed. The Bible tells me that faith moves mountains (Matthew 17:20).   Faith opens the doors and makes smooth the pathways that lead from a discouraging walk in the midst of misery to a life full of prosperity and blessing even in the center of trial. When I had no prospects as a slave to sin, the faith I had in Jesus Christ, made the way for an inheritance bigger than I could ever imagine, and even when I try to comprehend everything that is mine as an heir, I know I am still thinking too small.

He took the seven loaves of bread and the fish and gave thanks to God. Then he divided the food and gave it to his followers, and they gave it to the people. All the people ate and were satisfied. Then his followers filled seven baskets with the leftover pieces of food. Matthew 15:36-37 (NCV)

His plans for my life are better than anything I could plan on my own; they are grander than anything I could try to make happen. They are plans to prosper me and give me hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). He takes the meager offering of my life, my talents, my loaves and fishes, and multiplies it into abundance. My offering becomes the plenty that helps feed the masses, a legacy that is still being written into my future generations.

The angel also said, “I will give you so many descendants they cannot be counted.” Genesis 16:10 (NCV)

And He doesn’t stop there. My faith in Him thwarts the enemy’s designs against me. It fertilizes the soil of my heart so that during the time of harvest the reaping will be plentiful, sheaves of hardy wheat with little chaff. What the locusts have eaten and destroyed through the years will be restored to fullness. What others have taken from me will be returned and extra given back.

“Give back their fields, vineyards, olive trees, and houses right now. Also give back the extra amount you charged—the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine, and oil.” Nehemiah 5:11 (NCV)

I hold on to these truths, written in the Word. I grip them when I am lacking the strong faith of a Canaanite mother, when I am frustrated at the way the world is treating me. I hold on to God’s thoughts toward me as a lifesaving rope, knowing that without holding them in my heart, in tribulation I would be overcome.

Yesappa, thank You for Your love, Your grace, and Your mercy in my life. Thank you for full restoration and for truth. Thanks you for walking with me always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

Blessings – Julie, Vadipatti, India (written in the U.S.A.)

 

Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Mark 4-5

The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded our by the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is produced. Mark 4:18

Observation

Faith usually grows slowly from a mustard seed into a huge tree. The disciples needed Jesus to explain the parables.  They were amazed when he calmed the storm.  The townspeople didn’t understand how a demon possessed man could suddenly be in his right mind. The crowd at Jairus’ house laughed when Jesus suggested the little girl was not dead.   The woman Jesus healed from the bleeding disorder was one of only a few who understood the power of God immediately.

Application

The power of God is puzzling and unnerving to most people. The gift of faith  leads to understanding and acceptance of the power of God in Jesus Christ. The disciples had the physical presence of Jesus to mature spiritually. Beware of those things in life that could lead to an anorexic soul. Let’s plant ourselves deep into the Scriptures, prayer and the support of the Body of Christ to keep our faith vital.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the gift of faith. Get me out of the thorns and into productive soil where my faith can grow and be used to bear much fruit for your kingdom. Forgive me for those times I chose to hide in the shade of the thorns. You are an awesome God who had a plan for me from the beginning of time. Thank you for your forgiveness and love. In Jesus Name I pray

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