September 17, 2018
In this morning’s Fruit of the Vine, Chuck Orwiler notes that in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus “tells a group of people, who want to be his followers, that they are a people of little faith. This was not an insult.”
I stopped and read that sentence a second time: “This was not an insult.”
I feel exposed when Jesus reveals the truth about who I am, but it’s not a personal attack. And I’ve been thinking about all the ways this plays out in my experience as a Friend, especially when someone stands and speaks a word of truth that challenges my way of thinking or my behavior. I feel called out.
I don’t like that feeling.
How do you react? Are you defensive? Or eager to hear what comes next?
Chuck suggests that in the presence of Jesus – our fears disarmed – we might humbly ask, “Please help me know what to do.”
And Jesus responds that if we have “but a mustard seed of faith,” it is enough. These people had come to see and hear Jesus. It was proof of their faith, as they had sought “first God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness.” We also may already have faith enough to credit “God for covering the wildflowers beautifully,” and it only takes one small step more to trust that God cares at least as much for us.
Chuck offers this prayer: “O Lord, I do want to grow in my faith. May I please have the grace to take you seriously.”
Thank you,
Eric Muhr
P.S. Seeds of hope is the three-year campaign to fund the ministry of Barclay Press by developing new titles, supporting small churches, and balancing the budget. In order to stay on target to meet our goal of $162,000 by December 31, 2020, we need to get to $54,000 by the end of this year. As of this morning, we have raised $32,855 in gifts and pledges.
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