8 August 2015 - mustard seed

“Why could we not drive it out?”
He said to them, “Because of your little faith.

Let us pray, "I believe; help my unbelief!" (cf. Mar. 9:24)

Jesus wants us to have faith. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (cf. Heb. 11:1). Faith is how the people of Israel escape "out of Egypt, that place of slavery" and come into the promised land "a land with fine, large cities that you did not build, with houses full of goods of all sorts that you did not garner, with cisterns that you did not dig, with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant". Faith assures Israel that God is able to bring them into the promised land. When their faith wavers they fall back on their own efforts. When that happens they always come up short. We learn from them how much we need to remember who God is.

The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.

When we remember who God is we trust in his power. When we trust in his power we experience the deliverance that only comes through faith in him.

My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim!
And I am safe from my enemies.

It only takes a little. The one in whom we believe is so great that even a small amount makes a huge difference. A little bit of God goes a long way.

Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain,
‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.

Let us take this to heart and drill it into ourselves and our children. Let us constantly repeat to ourselves the truth of who he is, whether we are busy or at rest. Let us give ourselves constant reminders of who he is.

Bind them at your wrist as a sign
and let them be as a pendant on your forehead.
Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.

We are wont to forget. Let us do all we can to keep the LORD before our eyes. When we do not forget him mountains are moved and nothing is impossible for us.