Little Faith, Great Object | Thursday
Devotional
When the disciples failed to cast out the demon, they asked Jesus why they couldn’t do it. His response was both gentle and correcting: ‘Because of your little faith.’ Notice that Jesus didn’t say they had no faith or that they lacked faith entirely. He said they had little faith.
This distinction is crucial because it reveals something profound about the nature of faith itself. The issue wasn’t the size of their faith but where their faith was directed. They had begun trusting in their own methods and formulas rather than maintaining complete dependence on Christ. Their faith had subtly shifted from the person of Jesus to their own spiritual techniques.
This spiritual drift happens gradually in our own lives. We start well, depending entirely on Christ, but slowly begin trusting in our own processes, our spiritual disciplines, our knowledge, or our past experiences. We develop a kind of spiritual muscle memory that relies more on what we do than on who Christ is.
But here’s the liberating truth: it’s not about the strength of your faith – it’s about the object of your faith. Even small faith in the right object – Jesus Christ – can move mountains. The most important aspect of your faith isn’t its intensity but its direction.
True spiritual strength comes from denying our own abilities and utterly depending on Christ. This isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom. It’s recognizing that the God we’re praying to is the same God who is sustaining all things by the power of His Word at this very moment. When we grasp this reality, even our smallest faith becomes powerful because it’s anchored in an infinitely powerful Savior.
Bible Verse
‘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 17:20
Reflection Question
Where has your faith subtly shifted from depending on Christ to trusting in your own spiritual methods or abilities?
Quote
It is not about your faith. It is about your faith in Christ. The most important aspect of your faith is the object of your faith.
Prayer
Jesus, forgive me for the times I’ve trusted in my own spiritual techniques rather than in You alone. Help me to direct even my smallest faith toward You, knowing that You are more than sufficient for every challenge I face. Amen.