Matthew 17:14-21

Do you ever consider your faith, how strong it is, or perhaps how weak?  Our faith grows when we struggle. Our faith grows when we walk through the fiery furnaces of life.  We we face foes that seem totally insurmountable and we find ourselves on our knees begging for God to get us through this ordeal, that is when faith grows.

If life were one easy venture after another there would be no need for faith nor for prayer in our lives.  It is much the same as learning from our mistakes.  If we did not err there would be no life lessons.  Some think that once we are Christian, life is easy; there are no more challenges and certainly no more heartbreak.  Wrong...so very wrong.  Once we became Christian that is when we begin to learn about real life and we discover we still have to fight our way through some circumstances, but we have God to rely on.  We can call out to Him and He will hear us and he will respond.

My faith certainly has grown over the past 10 years and most notably so over the last year and a half.  I feel closer to God than ever before and I believe stronger that ever before.  Are you in a spot where your faith is growing stronger too?  It may feel like a hot seat but in fact it is the best place to be.

"Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:19-20)


Read the selected text, Matthew 17:14-21, here.  Listen to an audio recording here.

Learn from past mistakes - 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Young children are constantly learning.  It doesn't take too long for a baby to discover a loud cry will bring mom or dad to their side.  Children learn early to blow on their oatmeal before putting a big spoonful in the mouth, or don't surprise the cat or it may result in a scratch.

"Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness." (1 Corinthians 10:5)

Adults learn from mistakes too, we know it isn't smart to go boating without wearing a life vest, it is best to stick to the speed limit or to be cautious when walking through a construction site.  Our entire lives are like books filled with lessons and learning episodes.  These chapters in our life teach us how to approach tomorrow so we do not injure ourselves.

"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)

The Israelites had many lessons over the course of forty years spent roaming the dessert. They followed Moses through the Red Sea; they were led every day by a cloud and every night by a pillar of fire.  God presented them with opportunity after opportunity to learn from their past mistakes.  He provided everything they needed for survival while Moses led them toward the Promised Land.  But, few entered the place God intended for them.  Few came to enjoy God's reward.

The Israelites are the chosen people, we are called too. It is wise to learn from mistakes.  Many are called but few are chosen. (Matthew 22:14)  Our Promised Land is Heaven and we are called to spend eternity there.

Read the 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 text here.  Listen to an audio reading of 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 here.