“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.” — Matthew 17:20 (New Living Translation)
The power of faith is simply amazing. The person who operates by faith is unstoppable. Faith is complete trust in someone or something. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term for faith means “steadfastness.” God is seen as Someone we can trust and depend on. God is steadfast in God’s interaction and care for us. God is visible. God literally walks and talks with God’s people. In the New Testament, the Greek term for faith means “belief or to believe something will come to the forefront.” We can’t physically see God, and we may not be able to hear God’s voice, but we believe by faith that God is present, speaking to us and caring for us. God is most visible in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Faith as a principle is neutral and non-religious in nature. One does not need to be a Christian, Muslim, Jew or aspire to any particular religious belief or practice to exercise faith. The person who believes what they say will come to pass is exercising faith. And more often than not, what that person believes and speaks consistently and continuously, does indeed come to pass.
It is just as important, though, to understand that faith is essential for every Christian believer’s walk with Christ. We are saved by faith. We are healed by faith. We provide for our families by faith. We build and cherish good relationships by faith. We grow and mature spiritually by faith. We overcome every obstacle we must face by faith.
This was the point of Jesus’ words in Matthew 17. A man brought his son to the Disciples seeking healing. Though the Disciples seemed to have faith about Jesus, they failed when it came to having faith in Jesus. They could not rebuke the demon from the boy. So Jesus rebuked them for their “unbelief” and admonished them to have just a little faith — faith the size of a mustard seed.
The lesson Jesus taught is simple: Faith produces results. All the Disciples needed to heal the boy was the faith of a mustard seed. The mustard seed is the smallest of the seed family. And yet, when it grows, its leaves can provide shade for a large bird. Just as a little mustard seed produces shade when it grows, we can produce results with just a little faith. Mustard seed faith is having enough faith to believe that anything is possible. Exercising mustard seed faith makes us unstoppable.
In closing, take a brief moment and reflect on the following questions: “What mustard seed faith scenario am I facing right now? Do I have complete confidence that I can speak to my mountain and it will be removed? Do I completely trust God?” Now, take another moment and pray to God for help with any unbelief you may be experiencing. Remember, if we can exercise a little faith, faith the size of mustard seed, the mountain has to move. Mustard seed faith makes you and I unstoppable!
