"The Old Brick Church"

National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America: Reference number 83001136.

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: Matthew 17:20 (NLT)

 July 12

"You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." -Jesus in Matthew 17:20 (NLT) 


Have you ever experienced failure? It is tempting to give up. In order to succeed however, we need to keep trying. Pablo Picasso, once said "I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."  Consequently, Picasso became one of the most successful artists of all time. Yet most struggle with wanting to quit if we can't do something, just as the disciples did in today's scripture. When Jesus speaks to them about their discouragement because they were unable to heal a man immediately through their own prayer efforts, his purpose was not to criticize them. Rather it was to encourage a greater faith for greater success. After the disciples had been unable to heal this man, they were discouraged wondering why. Jesus said their faith was too small. They had the authority to heal, yet had not learned how to access God's power.  However it is that power combined with our faith that moves mountains. Jesus says faith in God even as tiny as a mustard seed is sufficient to do great things. There is awesome potential in even a little faith if don't quit and then trust in God's power to act in his time. If we feel weak or powerless, we need to examine our faith and make sure we also trust God's power and not just our own ability to produce results. Jesus didn't condemn the disciples for faithlessness but tried to show how important faith is in our lives and life journey. Are you facing a seemingly impossible situation today? Do you have a chronic problem that seems immovable as a mountain? Turn your eyes from the mountain and look to Christ with faith. Then will you be able to overcome any obstacle that stands in your way. Or as an old country proverb reminds us:   

 "Strength doesn't come from what you can do 

But comes from overcoming those things

 You once thought you couldn't do."

              

Prayer: Jesus, Increase my faith and trust in you.  Amen

Meditation For The Day: Success never quits. Defeat just sits.


Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)

https://www.amazon.com/Brief.../dp/0692848282/ref=sr_1_7...

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rev%20dr%20mary%20johnson...

No comments:

Post a Comment