Friday, 14 March, 2003

From the last section of Thomas Oden's book The Justification Reader.



Even a little faith can have great power. Jesus attested the power of faith in dramatic terms: "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20).

What does seed have that makes it analogous to the kingdom of God? Readiness to receive the condition of Growth.

The greatness of God's power becomes clear when it brings life from death (1 John 4:7-21). Paul's preaching did not proceed "with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on (human) wisdom, but on God's power" (1 Corinthians 2:5).



I don't like to think of faith as a quantity...a little faith...a lot of faith. For some reason, it always leads into conversations about "enough faith." When people go there, it is as though we are always lacking and if...if...if we had "enough or more faith" this or that would or would not happen. Well, I think the notion of the seed the size of a seed has little to do with an amount of faith. It is faith(period). To trust our God is to be standing in a new place in time. Don't worry about whether it is enough faith, the Holy Spirit is the one who provides the faith in the first place. If it is just a seed size faith...it is a gift...and an amazing one at that. The power for new life is as available in such a small notion of faith that it is indeed "enough." So put the "if only" stuff away and live by faith...the faith that is a gift and is the beginning of our lives.



Connection: Do not be discouraged. Even the faith that looks like someone searching for more...is faith enough. Even the faith that is wandering and confused and not sure what to do and where to go next...is enough. So therefore, keep moving...keep searching and wandering and facing the confusion of the day for the Holy Spirit is at work in, with, and under this day so that our God will be trusted in all that we do.



By the power of your Holy Spirit, O God, you touch us and bring us into this day. We face many times within our day that appear to be able to overwhelm us and yet you promise to lift us up and carry us through all that might attack us. Keep us faithful and let the power of your grace be our encouragement. Amen.