Being Like Him - a 40 Day Lenten DevotionalSample

Faith

The disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith. They had realized that it was impossible to follow Jesus without faith. Faith is to put your entire trust on someone or something. When I sit on a chair, I am presumably having faith that the chair will hold me. Even more so when I put my faith in Jesus, I am trusting him to hold me and lead me.

When the disciples requested to increase their faith, Jesus responded that, if they had faith the size of a mustard seed, they could ask the mulberry tree to move and plant itself in the sea (Luke 17:5-10). When the disciples were seeking for an increase in the quantity of faith, Jesus directed them to have “faith as small as a mustard seed”. I used to wonder about my own faith as when no tree obeyed me or no mountain moved. I have not seen a tree obeying me or a mountain even moving an inch causing me to really wonder if I had any faith at all.

So what does having faith really mean? Jesus, when redirecting the disciple’s attention to the most minimum size of faith, wants them to see that it is not the size of their faith that matters, rather a deep-seated faith in God, and His power and might that counts. God’s demonstration of His power to accomplish His purposes is not based on the quantity of our faith, but on His ability to acknowledge the weight we cast on Him.

It is therefore important to ask whom or what is the object of our faith. Jesus put His whole weight in His Father that He obeyed whatever His father asked Him to do. His faith in His father not only enabled Himto do miracles and heal the sick, but also to give up His life and die at a young age of thirty-three. His faith in His Father was so rooted and deep that He demonstrated the power of God in every aspect of His life.

Unfortunately these days, faith is understood as ‘getting whatever I want when I ask in Jesus’ Name.’ This is far from what Jesus taught about faith. It is not true what some teach, ‘the increase of faith will lead to an increase in miracles, healing and blessings’. Some do have the gift of healing and miracles but it does not necessarily imply the measure of their faith. Because mustard seed-sized faith is enough to move inanimate things. Faith is about the lifestyle of a Christian. It is about entrusting all aspects of our life, our future, our career, our family, and our ambitions to the one who created us. The Bible says that the righteous shall live by faith. To be like Him in faith calls for a lifestyle that is dependent on God. The more dependent we are, the more His power will be demonstrated. Increasing our faith is increasing our dependence on Him for His will to be done in our life. So may God help us to be people of faith, trusting in His goodness.

Prayer

Lord, truly increases our faith that our lifestyle will reflect the one in whom we have put our trust. We want to yield our whole life to you for your will to be done. May our life be a demonstration of your power and grace. In Jesus name, Amen.