I received a wake-up call this morning. It wasn’t like the slobbery, snuggly wake-up calls I get when Cheryl sends Buster and Hershey to get me up to go to the gym. It wasn’t like the sweet and gentle wake-up calls I get when Cheryl awakens me. My wake-up call this morning was like a bucket of cold water in my face.
I love the story of Jesus’ Transformation. I have wondered what it was like for Peter, John and James to see Moses and Elijah; to see Jesus shining in all of His Glory; to hear the voice of God.
Then Jesus comes off the mountain and encounters a large crowd. A man kneels at Jesus’ feet and makes an appeal for his demon possessed son. Then Jesus rebukes the crowd for their lack of faith. Wait a minute! Jesus isn’t rebuking the crowd. Jesus is rebuking His disciples. (Here comes the bucket of cold water) Jesus is rebuking me!
I wasn’t up on the mountain with Jesus; I was back in the valley, busy with ministry while waiting for His return. Like the disciples I am rebuked for having little faith; then encourage by Jesus to have small faith. Little faith? Small faith? What’s the difference?
Little faith is how Jesus refers to a divided life. It is a life more focused on obstacles than on the promises of God. A mustard seed may be small in size, but it is completely committed on being a mustard seed. Jesus wants me to have faith that is centered completely on God with an unwavering belief that nothing will prevent the fulfillment of God’s will. Mustard seed faith is grounded in the life of Christ within me.
When my prayers seek to nurture the life of Christ within me God affirms to me that “by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)
When my prayers seek to nurture the life of Christ within me God encourages me to “be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
When my prayers seek to nurture the life of Christ within me God’s gift to me is faith that empowers me to fulfill God’s will for my life.
What does today’s reading reveal to you
about God?
What does it reveal to you about yourself?
Think about what God wants you to do
or remember about this passage.
Does God want you to change anything in your life?
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