That Kind of Faith

It's not often that I read through the gospels and picture myself in the crowd of people who flocked to Jesus, hanging on His words. But this past week I had to ask myself if I lived in Jesus' time on earth, how would I have responded to Him? I was reading through Mark chapter 6. This is where Jesus declares that a prophet is without honor in his own country, and where he could do no great miracles there except heal a few sick people, because of...unbelief. It says "He marveled because of their unbelief."

Over in Matthew's gospel, chapter 8, we have the account of the Centurion coming to Jesus, declaring his belief that Jesus could heal his servant at home with just a word from Jesus. Jesus heard the Centurion's confident declaration of belief, and "He marveled, and said...'I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel."

Now I've been thinking about this. This is a serious question. Would I be one of the ones who Jesus was marveling at, astounded, because of my unbelief- or would He be smiling and marveling over my great faith and confident conviction of His Lordship and Power?

One of the worst phrases, in my mind, that anyone could hear would be the words, "Oh ye of little faith." May that not ever be said of me, to me, by the Lord. And yet, I may have heard these words whispered to my heart- in truth. I don't want to hear that said of me any more. Little faith is faith that trusts little, lacks confidence in God's willingness to reach out and meet us where we are at. It is under developed faith, a faith that has not risen in strength and conviction.

I want to be the kind of faith-filled woman that God loves to respond to, that God can work with. May He marvel that I believe Him, take Him at His word, in times of drought and darkness, and in times of abundance and light. This is the work of faith. It's an exciting work, a liberating journey, a path that winds upward. And what happens on this path of faith is simply marvelous.


"Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." Ps.139:14