"FAITH!"

Matthew 21:18-22                             (ESV)
"18 In the morning, as HE was returning to the city, HE became hungry.
19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, HE went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And HE said to it, "May NO FRUIT ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once.
20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?"
21 And JESUS answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen.
22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, IF YOU HAVE "FAITH."


There are many people who are have a "legalistic" or "prove it" point of view when considering things of GOD.  They want to have "proof" or evidence that their beliefs are well grounded. But GOD desires "believers" who come as "little children" (Matthew 18:1-6).  In John 3 Nicodemus asked JESUS if he needed to enter into his mothers womb again to be born again?  But JESUS was speaking "SPIRITUALLY" and Nicodemus was hearing "physically" and missed the point.

The Word of GOD says in Hebrews 11:6 "And without "FAITH" it is impossible to please HIM, for whoever would draw near to GOD must believe that HE exists and that HE rewards those who seek HIM."  GOD desires to have us (believers) draw closer to HIM by studying HIS Word, but in order for us to become believers in the first place we MUST come without reservations believing "that HE exists and that HE rewards those who seek HIM"!  And if we TRULY BELIEVE, then we can't help but live John 13:34-35 which says "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are MY disciples, if you have love for one another."

If we really believed GOD is WHO HE says HE is, ("FAITH), then we would have NO PROBLEM filling our churches with people wanting to serve HIM!  Cursing a fig tree would be the smallest of miracles we would work, IN HIS NAME.  We get SO caught up in trying to "legalistically" prove a point when ALL JESUS said to do was "love one another"!

Whether you believe like I do or we disagree on some theological intricacies, we MUST love one another!  If we do not show our love for one another, even through our differences, then there is no evidence (proof) that we believe in, and have "FAITH" in, HIM!  GOD's power has not lost ANY strength, nor HIS grace any favor!  Our "FAITH" in HIM, and WHO HE is, is the only variable that could have possibly changed!  I pray that I will refocus my life on my "FAITH" "that HE exists and that HE rewards those who seek HIM" and LOVING ONE ANOTHER!