The Story of Jesus
Where is our faith tested to see just how much we have learned to rely on in our lives? I ask myself this question as I meditate on this very familiar passage before the sun is up. It seems the answer is in the first few words of the passage, “At the bottom of the mountain…” Peter, James and John have just experienced the transfiguration, the glory of Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah. They were on the top of the mountain seeing with their own eyes and hearing God speak! “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.” Wow!
Then Jesus and the disciples come down to the bottom of the mountain where real life is needy. The disciples attempted to do what Jesus did…heal. Mm. Test of faith. Jesus gives them another booster lesson about an ever growing faith that we all need. Every. Single. Day.
Matthew 17, Msg
14-16 At the bottom of the mountain, they were met by a crowd of waiting people. As they approached, a man came out of the crowd and fell to his knees begging, “Master, have mercy on my son. He goes out of his mind and suffers terribly, falling into seizures. Frequently he is pitched into the fire, other times into the river. I brought him to your disciples, but they could do nothing for him.”
17-18 Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.” He ordered the afflicting demon out—and it was out, gone. From that moment on the boy was well.
19 When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves, they asked, “Why couldn’t we throw it out?”
20 “Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”
Question for us: What would you tackle right now if you KNEW without doubt that God would provide all you needed to make it happen? Then, with all that is within us, by the grace and power of Jesus Christ as Lord, say, Mountain, move!
Dear Heavenly Father, I get so excited when I read Your Word each morning. Your insight is fresh to us. You give us more than what we can handle so our faith is tested for strength and depth. Thank you for deepening our faith and our FOCUS for today. We get so distracted by making a living that we forget about living LIFE to the full, in Your glorious unforced rhythms of grace! We repent. We are now refocused on You and Your will and mission for us. We say to that current “mountain” in our lives, MOVE, in the name of Jesus Christ! Move! Thank you! In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 