I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel. (Luke 7:9)
Jesus encountered several degrees of faith during his earthly ministry. Crossing the Galilee one evening, he and the disciples ran into a furious storm. Jesus was asleep, so the terrified disciples woke him, accusing him of not caring. After quieting the storm, Jesus said, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:40 NKJV).
On another occasion, warning his followers about the dangers of worry and anxiety, Jesus reminded them that if God clothes the grass of the field with flowers and lush vegetation, “will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” (Matt. 6:30).
Later Jesus healed a demon-possessed boy whom the disciples could not help. When they asked him why they couldn’t drive out the demon, Jesus said, “Because you have so little faith.” Then he instructed them that even faith as small as a mustard seed can potentially move mountains (see Matt. 17:19–20). It’s what we sometimes call “seed faith.”
In our Scripture lesson this week, Jesus commended the Roman centurion for having “great faith,” unlike any he had found in all Israel. A Gentile’s faith outshone that of the religious folk. Then we find Stephen described in Acts 6:5 as “a man full of faith.”
How is your faith? No faith, little faith, seed faith, great faith, or full of faith? Wherever you are, keep growing in faith.
Strive to be a person whose faith is consistently growing.
Ron McClung is a recently retired minister in The Wesleyan Church. He and his wife, Carol, live in Michigan and look forward to spending time with their two sons, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
© 2022 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
