journey onWord with us

Let me just say that I simply and sincerely LOVE scripture.  It would require a multi-part post to expound on the multitude of reasons why, so I will choose just one to share with you that I was reminded of in the midst of our reading schedule early this week.

One of the many things that I LOVE about scripture is how the Spirit can use a well-worn single phrase, verse or entire portion of scripture and  bring it into view at just the right time in your life to bring hope, healing, encouragement or challenge.  A truth you have intersected with so often that you could recite it in your sleep and which may have, over time, lost much of its power in the repetition.  God’s Word is never the thing in need of a recharge, though, right?!

This idea of power is a recurring theme in the seventeenth chapter of Luke (power in forgiving, healing and judgement).  It’s at the heart of the disciples response to Jesus’ standard of forgiveness.

The apostles came up and said to the Master, “Give us more faith.”
Luke 17:5  MSG

It seems a bit odd, but on deeper consideration, totally plausible that the disciples would ask for more faith in living up to the standard Jesus just set for forgiving someone.

Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.
Luke 17:4  NLT

This wouldn’t be the world’s wisdom in responding to repeated hurt, and you can certainly put yourselves in the disciples place in thinking they’ll need more of something to live up to that standard.

Jesus’ response to the disciples is the “well-worn” I was mentioning above.  They’re words that most, if not all, would readily recognize (although you may not be familiar with the exact words of “The Message” text) …

But the Master said, “You don’t need more faith. There is no ‘more’ or ‘less’ in faith. If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it would do it.
Luke 17:6  MSG

“You don’t need more faith.”  That must have been a response that the disciples didn’t see coming, and I wonder if it’s one that we really believe.  I’ve heard and repeated, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed ” many times over, but as I read and allowed the words to settle deeper, new life was breathed into that “seed” of truth.

As I navigate through life and its many uphill moments and seasons, it seems my call is most often for “more” … more presence, more patience, more peace, more power, more faith.  Jesus is clear in responding that you don’t need “more.”  You only need a minute measure of pure faith to possess the kind power that uproots a mature, stalwart tree.  Romans 8:11 tells us, as a child of God indwelt by the Spirit, we have resurrection power inside of us.  A truth you’ve, no doubt, heard many times before but take a minute and let that settle deeper.  The exact same power as raised Jesus from the dead is within all who believe … is inside of ME.

The pace of human technology is traveling at light speed.  In the design, research and manufacture of Intel’s i7 computer processor chip, researchers created transistors so small that that it was calculated 30 million of them could fit on the head of a pin.  Yet as powerful as “30 million on the head of a pin” sounds, it is dwarfed by resurrection power.

Let us not be found asking for more.  Let us rather focus on becoming less, and tapping into the bottomless well of resurrection power found deep inside of us.  Let us live and forgive in that power.