A New Way to...

I recently came across an article by Hayley @root.cuase.mama, that talked about a different meaning to the mustard seed verse. In Matthew 17 the disciples are unable to cast out a demon from a boy who's being tormented with seizures, falling into fire and water trying to kill him. They are confused as to why only Jesus was able to cast it out when he rebukes the spirit and heals the boy. Jesus tells them, "because of your unbelief....If you have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move', and it will move. Nothing will be impossible to you". 

I've ever thought how they didn't have enough faith? They walked with Jesus, saw many miracles. Why was their faith not "enough"? Why would he say they needed faith LIKE a mustard seed? It is such a tiny, tiny seed. The author suggests that the misinterpretation happens when we think of faith LIKE a mustard seed. The scripture says AS a mustard seed. This word takes on a whole new meaning when we see what people knew about mustard seeds in that time. 

In the 1st century, the mustard plant was an INVASIVE plant. Once it took root, it spread fast, crowded out, destroyed other plants, and it dominated the soil. It was feared by farmers because it couldn't be contained and was near impossible to remove or git rid of it. So when Jesus spoke of faith "As a mustard seed" his listeners didn't think about a tiny seed. They thought about an uncontainable, invasive, dominating, unstoppable plant. 

The kind of faith Jesus was telling them about was not small. It is something that grows rapidly and vastly; spreading to every part of ones life. It overtakes, uproots, and destroys the lies, fears, and doubts of this world. It grows into the full authority established by God's Kingdom- consuming, mountain moving faith. 

After reading this I wanted faith AS a mustard seed. Rooted, invasive, unstoppable, and overtaking every lie with God's truth. The kind of faith the world calls "crazy" but is the kind of faith that Jesus says moves mountains. I am so grateful that this faith is so graciously given to us as a gift from the Holy Spirit. It's not a faith that I am required to have of my own will or strength. By receiving this gift and trusting in Him with my whole heart, He can grow that seed of faith into an unshakable rooted faith, that nothing can stand against it. 

-Joy Holifield