So... Do You Have Faith?

Scripture tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. It also tells us that even a tiny amount of faith pleases Him.

"(Jesus) He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Matthew 17:20 (NIV)



A mustard seed is tiny, but once planted, grows into a large tree.
Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Matthew 21:21-22 (NIV)

We all have faith right?
We go to a doctor we hardly know. They hand us a prescription we cannot read. We take that prescription to a pharmacist we have never met. They gives us a medication we do not recognize or understand and we take it ... all in faith right?

Just as in everyday life faith comes through a number of steps. Faith in God does not come all at once neither. Faith is a step-by-step process that begins with one small step and increases as we go. 

An Old Testament story found in Joshua 3 illustrates this truth.

The Israelites are camped on the bank of the Jordan River. Forty years earlier, they had escaped from Egypt and have been wandering around in the wilderness ever since. All of their needs have been met by God. They have seen miracle after miracle and now they can see Canaan, the Promised Land.

However, there is a problem.

A huge river stands between them and the Promised Land and there is no way around it. To make things worse, it is flood season and the usual places to cross are covered with deep, rushing water. The Israelites knew God could stop the river right before their eyes or He could throw a bridge across it - but He doesn't. Instead, He gives Joshua some very strange orders.

1. First order - The people are to keep an eye on the Ark of the Covenant.
2. Second order - As soon as they see the priests carrying the Ark, the people are to fall in behind them.
3. Third order - Joshua tells the people to expect amazing things to happen.
4. Fourth order - Joshua commands the priests to pick up the Ark and stand in the river.

God told His people that He would make a dry path through the river but the priests had never seen that happen. In fact, they hadn't even been born when the Red Sea was parted and there were no reruns of the Ten Commandments at the local Desert Wilderness Theatre. The Israelites had spent their entire adult lives in the wilderness and finally, they could see a way out. Oh, and one more problem - the priests couldn't swim. This was probably the first river they had even been close to in their lives. I can imagine their fear and questions. God was asking them to step out in faith as never before.

I don't imagine the Israelites had a great deal of faith in God at that very moment, but they had just enough faith to take that first step. And that was enough.

Let's look a little closer at this reading;
"Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground."
Joshua 3:15-17 (NIV)

Notice that God did nothing until those toes touched the water. That first step was all God needed to see. Many times, we won't take the first step because we're afraid we won't be able to make the whole journey. I know it has been a big part of my growing pains in faith.

So...what is your first step?

• Don't wait until you believe it all.
• Don't wait until you can see it all.
• Don't wait until you understand it all.

Step out in childlike faith and put your trust in God.

Some people say it doesn't really matter where we place our faith, as long as our faith is real. I could not disagree more, and here's why!

A United Press release told of a mid-western hospital where officials discovered that the firefighting equipment had never been connected. For 35 years, the medical staff and the patients had believed and had faith in this system, but it had never been attached to the city's water main. The pipe that led from the building extended 4 feet underground -- and then stopped. The expensive equipment was adequate for the building, but, it lacked the most important thing -- the water hook-up.
Yes, their faith was also real, but it was dangerously misplaced."

Our faith is worthless unless it is placed in God and God alone. We have no hope apart from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Now It's Your Turn!
Faith begins with one small step.
It's simple really. Begin by praying a simple prayer even like the following:

"Father, I come to You today in faith. I want to know You. I want to follow You for the rest of my life. I am afraid because my faith is small, but I am placing the faith I do have in You, Lord. I trust You to strengthen and grow that faith and help me become a fully devoted follower that pleases and honors You.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen."

 Jesus said a little faith can have incredible results. We don't need a lot of faith - just as much as a mustard seed to produce great results. Why? Because our God is an awesome God and our faith depends on Him!