Dear Precious Friends,
Today we are on Chapter 17 of our read a Chapter of Luke for the month of December Challenge.. Can you believe it's only 7 days until we celebrate Christmas??? It's Jesus Birthday!!!
Once again this not so brief girl is struggling with one area to share of the many amazing truths in this chapter. I am using commentaries and devotionals to share these absolute truths.
The Bible says that God “is” love (1 John 4:8, 16). Therefore, if ever we hope to attain to that holy principle of love, faith must facilitate our path to it.
Jesus had a habit of teaching His disciples vital truths to clear up their perplexities. He often used nature and Scripture as His lesson books. In our theme text, Jesus taught that if we have only a tiny little bit of faith, just enough for it to be called faith, and direct it to the Powerhouse whom God is, we will be able to overcome any obstacle in life.
WHAT!!!! HOW!!!! Faith is the conduit through which the power of God flows. God’s power is immeasurable.
The size of our faith, although God is kind enough to increase it through daily use, is not the focal point; IT IS THE SIZE OF GOD'S POWER!!!
IN LUKE 17 God shares in the first 17 verses about Forgiveness & Faith:
At the moment, the disciples were struggling with temptations, sin, forgiveness, and human relationships; all complex subjects. They were overwhelmed by the responsibility. But again, Jesus made it real simple for them. If they would just surrender the little measure of faith He gives all people, to Him, He would maximize its effectiveness in conducting His power into our lives.
I am intrigued by the fact that the words “love” and “faith” occur together at least 20 times in the King James Version of the Bible. This must mean that faith and love, together, significantly impact our lives.
Think about it: if true love epitomizes God’s essence and this holy principle cannot be attained at its highest levels except when we are in relationship with God, then faith must be the conduit to facilitate our way to attaining the standard. Was that too complicated? Let me say it this way: the only way we can truly love is if we have saving faith in God. Any other love is substandard and a far cry from the pinnacle of God’s intent.
Paul said it this way from Ephesians 3:13-19:
I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
DO WE COMPREHEND THIS? The disciples' request was "We need more faith, tell us how to get it"... They were genuince and wanted the faith necessary for radical forgiveness mentioned in the previous verses. But Jesus didn't answer their question direction because the amount of faith is not as important as its genuineness.. What is faith? It is complete trust and loyalty to God that results in a willingness to do his will. Faith is not something we use to put on a show for others... It is COMPLETE AND HUMBLE OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WILL, READINESS TO DO WHATEVER HE CALLS US TO DO... The amount of faith isn't as important as the right kind of faith... faith in our all powerful God!!!
Have you ever seen a mustard seed? Is is so small you can barely see it... yet it is alive and growing.. Almost invisible at first. It wiill begin to spread, first under the ground and then visibly... Like a tiny seed, a small amount of genuine faith in God will take root and grow!
Although each change will be gradual in imperceptible, soon this faith will have produced major results that will uproot and destroy competing loyalties... We don't need more faith: a tiny seed of faith is enough if it is alive and growing.. It is God who takes that faith and moves mountains!!!
Our God stands ready, willing and available to give you heavenly riches, inner strength from the Holy Spirit, an overflow of the fullness of God, Christ’s presence dwelling within you, and faith enough to root and ground you in the love of Jesus.
Now, that’s a mouthful. More than that, it’s a life full – a life full of faith that works by love and purifies the soul.
Let's go out and move some mountains today... it's the mountain mover that does the work, we just need faith!!
FORSAKING ALL I TRUST HIM!! Lets do this!!
AMEN!
