FAITH’S STEPS

Matthew 9:27-38               

Friday, 12 July 2024

 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.”  -Matthew 9:29[NASB]

The expression of faith by two blind men is seen in our reading today. Hebrews 11: 6 says “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” The first expression of faith is to believe Him and then follows the actions born out of a trust that diligently seek Him. The one who does so will surely be rewarded.

We see an instance of seeking Jesus whereby we see faith in action. The two blind men must have heard of Jesus’ miracles and followed him till He came to the house- their faith in Him made them pursue Jesus until they received their miracle! Jesus confirmed their faith by asking them if they believed He could make them see. They answered: “Yes, Lord”- they acknowledged Him as Lord- another expression of their faith. They received their sight!

On the contrary, we see in V.34 the expression of unbelief through the words of the Pharisees. They could not acknowledge the power of God that worked through Jesus to deliver and heal the mute and demon-possessed man. In essence their unbelief caused them to give credit to the ruler of demons. What a pity! The Pharisees were blinded with prejudice against Jesus— His words and all that He did. They doubted His miracles and the source of His power. They were spiritually blind! Jesus speaks of them elsewhere: “Leave the Pharisees alone. They are blind people who are guides to blind people. But if a blind person leads another blind person, they will both fall into a ditch.” [Matt.15:14 CEB]. Friend, your words of unbelief can cause another to stumble in their faith in Christ- so beware!

A person who professes to have faith must first have faith in the living God and what He has spoken in His Word- the Bible. The Bible talks about how to get right with God -through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:17 [AMP] says, “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed in a way that awakens more faith]. As it is written and forever remains written, “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” This is faith in God and in His Son who gives eternal life to those who put their faith in Him. What more- He helps us live a life of faith in the temporal world we live in, looking to the eternal one where we will live with Him forever!

Dear friend, where have you placed your faith? — in yourself? In the “blind” guides/teachers?  in the temporary things that disappear with time? Real crises in life will cause all those “props” to fail. Well, it’s time to put your faith in the eternal living God. He will be your mainstay in all situations in life. Or have you not exercised your faith in the Lord, in the way it should be, in the present circumstances that you are in?  Such a faith will declare: “For with God nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:37). Maybe you need the faith that pleads and pursues!  We see how it was rewarded in the lives of those two blind men we read about.

May faith in Christ and what He can do, be your guiding line always!

Thought for the Day: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  -2 Corinthians 5:7