A Tool That Works

A Tool That Works

The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you!”

Luke 17:6

I love smartphones and the apps that come with them. Want the news? Just click on an app and you will soon know what is going on in Aruba or Afghanistan. Looking for the best price? Simply scan the bar code. I can’t wait until someone develops an app that will cook dinner or clean the bathroom. But the app I really want, the one I would pay good money for, would be what I call the peace app. Feeling stressed? Just download it and you will feel as though you’re living at a spa. Having a hard time in a relationship? This app will smooth things out. You’ve got the peace app!

Okay, enough of the ridiculous. When it comes to having peace, the only practical application I know of is faith. Faith enables us to stand up when we feel like lying down, to move forward when we want to run away. It’s what enables us to please God, because without faith we can’t begin to live the way he wants us to. The book of Hebrews tells us that faith “is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen” (11:1). Scripture goes on to say that by faith, people have overthrown kingdoms, ruled with justice, received what God promised, quenched flames of fire, escaped death. It was by faith that their weakness was turned to strength (see Hebrews 11:33-34). If we want to have peace, then we have to have faith.

But faith isn’t a matter of “trying harder.” It is something supernatural, a gift from God to enable you to do what you cannot do on your own. It’s also a gift that has to be used. If you fail to exercise it, living by your own wits, you will find that faith becomes a shriveled, feeble thing, unable to support you when you need it.

Ask God today to fill you with real faith, not in yourself, but in him. Remember what Jesus said: even faith the size of a mustard seed—and that’s tiny—can do great things.

Lord, thank you for the gift of faith. Help me to use it so I can obey your commandments and hold fast to your promises. I want to take the risks that you ask. And as I do, increase my faith.