Only Begotten

“Because of your little faith,” he told them. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17: 20

We love this verse, do we not?

This very verse has been made into all kinds of jewelry, with mustard seeds encased in clear resin usually depicted in front of some delicate little mountain range-shaped curve of metal.

Jesus was responding to his disciples in this verse because they were wondering why they were not able to cast a demon out of a boy, yet Jesus was immediately able to cure the boy by driving it out.

“Because of your little faith.”

So we now think, “Man, if only I could have just the faith of a mustard seed! I should be able to just have THAT much faith, right? Surely, surely, Lord, can’t I just have the faith of a MUSTARD SEED?”

Friends, I am going to make a bold statement.

Christians, I believe, (and as I said, this is bold), that God is tired of the mustard seed. And not because of what Jesus said, but because we humans have taken what he said out of context.

“Why, God, can’t I just have the faith of a mustard seed? Why can’t I? Surely I can!”

I… I… I.

While we are looking to the seed we have taken our eyes off of God.

While we lament and mourn our lack we forget that we can do ALL things, not just move mountains, through Christ who strengthens us.

We are so focused on our lack that we forget that our Lord has NO lack. He lacks NO ability that we can imagine.

Our lack, our faith, our ability. Our, our, our.

We have to realize that it has nothing to do with our shortcomings and everything to do with where we are looking.

Are we truly looking to God when we desire to move mountains? Or are we looking at our lack?

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13

Notice it has nothing to do with our own strength.

Only the strength of Christ our savior can ever possibly equip us with enough faith to do his will.

Turn away from the mustard seed, and turn your eyes upon Jesus.