A Mustard Seed of Faith - Matthew 17-19

I have never wanted to move a mountain. When I see a mountain I am more amazed than motivated to have it moved. As pictures go, the "moving of a mountain" graphic painted by Christ in Matthew 17:20 seems almost beyond our mental capacity to grasp it. Peter, James, John and the Savior had just come down from the mountain - the Mount of Transfiguration. (Can you imagine that experience? Christ, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James, John and then the voice of God? Wow!! What a church service). Christ comes down from the mountain and a man has brought to the other disciples his son who is demon possessed. The nine disciples left behind were trying to cast out the demon - but had failed. Apparently they didn't have the faith necessary to do so (17:17-20). To use this as a teaching moment Christ turns back to the mountain He just left and says that even a mustard seed of faith is enough to cast that mountain into the sea. A mustard seed was, at the time, reported to be one of the smallest known seeds to man. It makes little difference to me how big it was ... any seed is very small compared to a mountain. Christ simply tells them that little faith can do big things. He teaches them that we don't need much but we do need some. How do we get faith, even a little? Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8,9). Faith comes from hearing God's Word and Believing it (Romans 10:17). So to have faith I have to receive and read! I have to believe what God says in His Word and take Him at His Word. That is God's gift to me. And, with that Faith I can move mountains. When I have a fear in my life (a mountain) I can, by faith move it, by trusting in what God said. It sounds simple. And, faith is. To prove it's simplicity Christ latter compares faith to that which a child can have (19:14). Adults over complicate things. Faith moves mountains and God provides Faith by hearing His word. If you have little faith you listen to His word very little. Want big faith? Indulge yourself frequently in His Word. Study God's Word and go move mountains.