As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them: “See that no one knows about this!” But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout all that land.” Matthew 9:27-31 (NAS)
Note two important points of this passage. First, Jesus questioned their faith. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Second, Jesus tied their healing to the quality of their faith. “It shall be done to you according to your faith.” It is one thing to “follow” Jesus and “cry out” our desires to him. It is entirely something else to exercise faith that produces the desired results in our lives.
Personal faith is an essential element in our walk with the Lord. Faith is easily defined (Hebrews 11:1) but not easily practiced (Mt. 6:30; 8:26; 16:8). One might ask, ‘what is faith, really?’ Definitions only feed the brain and cannot adequately answer this yearning of the soul. Examples of active faith, however, enable the soul to recognize faith when it is displayed. Somehow, active faith, in other believers, empowers us to understand and activate our own faith. So what is faith?
Faith is going to bathe in a pool called Siloam, without doubt, when told to do it. Faith is casting a net where Jesus said to cast the net, without question. Faith is promptly removing the stone from a tomb of the dead. Faith quickly responds, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” Faith asks without hesitation, “Lord, what do you want me do?”
E. M. Bounds, nineteenth century pastor and author, wrote:
“Obedience helps faith, and faith, in turn, helps obedience. To do God’s will is essential to true faith, and faith is necessary to implicit obedience.”
Dear Father, thank you for the faith we possess. Enable us to obey in faith. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in your faith,