It is usually in the difficult moments of life that our faith is tested. We may be hanging onto the last few dollars, hoping we have enough to cover expenses. Some of us may be awaiting results from the doctor, wishing it is nothing to worry about. We may be in the thick of it, getting calls from billing offices for missing a payment, or living with the diagnosis we never imagined.
Jesus came across so many people needing healing. Their stories are recorded in the book of Matthew, but more beautiful than their miracle is the testament of their faith. In Matthew 8:11, Jesus is amazed by the faith of the centurion who believed Jesus could heal his servant by just speaking it. Later, in Matthew 9:21-22 we read about the bleeding woman who believed just touching his (Jesus) cloak would heal her.
The words of Jesus demonstrate that our faith has power. We read various expressions all pointing to this truth:
– Your faith has healed you (Matthew 9:22).
– According to your faith let it be done to you (Matthew 9:29).
– He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith (Matthew 13:58).
Knowing this, why aren’t more of us seeking out this faith? Romans 10:17 says that faith comes from hearing the word of God. Later in Matthew 13 we read that there are levels to this. I’ll paraphrase, but Matthew 13:13 quotes Jesus saying that even those that are hearing will not hear or understand. Why? They have a calloused heart. Challenges like financial pressures and disease have crowded out space in their heart to believe (and grow in their faith).
This chapter also teaches on the four types of soil, representing faith in our lives. In some cases, the seed, meaning the word of God, falls on rocky ground. Where there are no roots, it only lasts a little while. Other times the seed falls on thorns, representing people who hear the word, but do not bear fruit because the worries drown out God’s voice. The good soil is the one that yields fruit as the seed falls on those that hear the word and understand it–believing it.
More interesting is Matthew 13:28-29 when Jesus tells another parable of the weeds. Here the servant spots weeds growing among the wheat and asks the owner if he should pull them up. The owner says no, “because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.” This reminds me that sometimes we go through difficult seasons, and while we are praying for God to remove us from that season, it is best that we don’t. Should he uproot us before time, all the lessons we could take (the good wheat) would be pulled out with it. Sometimes both need to grow together. When it is time, the bad will be thrown away.
Living Thirty Three 