How Much Faith is Enough?
I just finished writing a sermon from Matthew 8 about the faith of the Roman Centurio in Capernaum. Here was a pagan who had more faith than the “Chosen People” who lived in the area. Here was a man of authority approaching one over whom he was given authority by Rome. It would have been understandable if he had demanded that Jesus heal his servant. Instead he approached Jesus humbly. (Luke said that he didn’t even come himself, but some Jews came on his behalf.)
He called Jesus “Lord”, which acknowledged His position, and he even said, “You can do this with just a word and not even have to come to my house.” Jesus was amazed. He had never encountered such faith even among the Jews. As a matter of fact He had admonished those closest to Him on several occasions for their “little faith”. However, Jesus did teach that little faith could be effective faith. He said that one with faith as small as a mustard seed could move a tree or a mountain. Salvation is available for those with “child-like” faith.
It seems that we have a lot to learn about faith and its application. In many ways faith is like a muscle. It must be fed and it must be exercised. We feed faith by reading and hearing God’s Word. Just as we eat several times a day to keep our physical body healthy, we must ingest God’s Word several times a day. We exercise faith by going beyond what we know that we can do and trusting God to do far more than we can even imagiine. Someone said that faith is the “coin of the realm” in the kingdom of God. That means that without faith we can do nothing.
So…I need to take the faith that is a gift from God, feed it on His Word and exercise it in my daily life. Then my “little faith” will be enough to accomplish miracles.
Bill Cole is originally from Alabama, grad of Samford University in Birmingham, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served churches in AL, LA, CA, and FL in various positions. He experienced the beginning of Jesus movement in the ’60’s and have done short term missions in South Africa, Russia, and Barbados. He Retired in 2023 from a 12-year pastorate in Lake Placid, FL. He is currently living with his wife in Sebring Florida. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bcole39/
Image by DEEPAI
True, whatever faith we have is enough because it comes from God and is supported by God’s infinite power. Faith should not be a “blind faith” or mere belief, but rather a growing, active, and spiritual understanding that progresses toward complete reliance on God. Because faith originates from God (divine Love) and not human willpower, even a small, weak amount of faith is enough for God’s infinite power to initiate healing and blessings.
Your friend -His servant,
Isaac Otieno
Amen.