He (Jesus) replied, “Because
you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, 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.”
(Matt 17:20 NIV)
I read this scripture a couple of days
ago and have been reflecting on it ever since. I, like most people, take this
verse to refer to the size of the mustard seed. The mustard seed is one of the
tiniest seeds there are, so we just need to have a small amount of faith, even
as small as the mustard seed and we are good to go. That thought has always
comforted me, because during difficult times I have always been able to measure
my faith and claim to have at least that much. But, is that really what this means?
In this New International Version (NIV) that seems to be what is being said “if
you have faith as small as a mustard seed.”
I decided to delve a little deeper into
this verse, looking at other versions, and doing some other readings. The thing
that popped out was the idea of it not being the size of our faith, but to be
like or as a mustard seed, doing what it does. The mustard seed, again one of
the tiniest seeds, grows into a huge tree. This is amazing! If I look at the
New King James (NKJ) version which says,“If
ye
have faith as a grain of mustard seed,” then
I get a clearer sense that my faith is to be more than small in size. It is to
continue to grow. How is this done? Like a mustard seed being planted in the
rich soil, I must plant myself in the word of God, in the church, in prayer,
and in my walk with God, so that my faith will be nourished and continue to
grow. This thought too blesses my heart. With the growing of my faith, maybe
the next time I run into difficult times I can proclaim to have faith as great
as a mustard TREE rather than just a mustard seed.
Praying that we may all have great faith! God Bless!!!
