Matthew 17:14-23
Reflect
There are times when I have read this passage and I get discouraged. I put myself in the disciples’ shoes and am wondering what happened. What changed? Why couldn’t they heal the boy?
This passage centres around faith, and Jesus is trying to help the disciples, and us, look at the real nature of faith. Jesus isn’t saying we must have more faith, but rather how our faith is being focused.
One commentator frames it this way. Faith is not a particular substance, the more of which the disciples have, the more they can accomplish. It is not a gift of magic that can be manipulated at will. Rather, faith is confidence that we can do what God calls us to do – it is “taking God at his word.”
In Jewish literature the idea of moving a mountain was a proverb for doing what is virtually impossible. What I find encouraging is if God calls us to do something, even if it seems crazy, He will accomplish it through His power if we are obedient.
Prayer
May it be Lord, that we experience Your power moving through us as we walk obediently with You today.
Pastor Terry
Pray for Barbara Labreque - Wycliffe
Barbara has had the privilege of serving with Wycliffe since 1998. Barbara serves with Wycliffe at the Canada Institute of Linguistics (CanIL), Wycliffe Canada’s training school in BC. It is a blessing to be part of the team at CanIL which seeks to equip the next generation to give marginalized people around the world access to God’s Word and education. At CanIL, Barbara works in finances, administration, and donor relations, officially. Unofficially, she does whatever needs to be done and makes the most of opportunities to talk to students about language development and cross-cultural living.
Please pray for CanIL’s leadership team and faculty. Please pray for the CanIL students who are seeking to serve in Bible translation.