HIGHLIGHT
Matthew 17:19–20 (ESV): 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
EXPLAIN
The disciples had seen Jesus perform many mighty miracles. The disciples themselves had performed many great miracles. But now, they could not cast a demon out of a boy.
The ESV notes that some of the ancient manuscripts insert a verse 21, that caveats such exorcist faith with prayer and fasting. Regardless of the arguments that may be made to keep or remove that verse, we should understand the necessity of prayer and fasting for such mountain-moving faith.
The reason why one can exercise such great faith largely depends on one’s vital communion with the Father.
APPLY
How many mountains do we allow to block our path because we simply don’t believe there is “a way”? How many miracles and blessings do we forfeit because we cannot see, we cannot believe, a better future?
It is truly intimidating to consider a life in which, “nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 5:20), but what if we began to live with that mentality?
Obviously, we must not set out on such a voyage of faith without the anchors of prayer and fasting – submission to the will of God.
But what if we truly believed nothing is impossible for the follower of Jesus?
RESPOND
Heavenly Father, give me a mountain-moving faith? Help me not to doubt, but to truly believe that everything, anything, you set before me is possible through the Spirit’s enabling power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.