FRIENDS! READERS !
After almost 80 posts, I'm starting to feel a bit closer to you!
Hope you don't mind, I call you friend. (I'm smiling)
So Friends,
I feel the need to expound on the verses of Matthew chapter 17:14-20 where Jesus is healing the crowd and sees those precious moments as a great time to further teach his disciples more about Faith. Though, I have my own thoughts about what I read in scripture as it is revealed to me, I also really like many of the footnotes in the bible.
I always tell you what version of the bible that I write out of, for your own knowledge, so you can follow along. There are many different versions of the King James Holy Bible. I have a version of that as well and I use it also. But I really like the breakdown of the N.I.V. Still, it's up to you what you use, what you can comprehend, follow and feel comfortable using!
I use a Life Application Study Bible. N.I.V. (New International Version). Remember, whatever version you use, if it written in red, then that supposedly is what was recorded as Jesus' own words.
Jesus talks about them being an "unbelieving, and perverse generation,". Technically, you could still apply that term to man kind right now, in our day and age! This world is full of NON-BELIEVING persons AND DOUBTFUL followers of Christ. He gets really frustrated with his disciple, those brethren whom HE CHOSE to follow him!
Let's get into the follow up, shall we?
Moving on.
First, I"ll write out the scripture verse for you: Matthew 17:17:
"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me."
MY N.I.V. Footnotes on verse 17:
'The disciples had been given the authority to do the healing, but they had not yet learned how to appropriate the power of God. Jesus' frustration is with the unbelieving and unresponsive generation. (I told you Reader, that this could easily refer to us in our time!) His disciples were merely a reflection of that attitude in this instance. Jesus' purpose was not to criticize the disciples, but to encourage them to greater faith.
More N.I.V. Footnotes on verse 17, including verses 18, 19 & 20:
The disciples had been unable to drive out this demon, and they asked Jesus why. He pointed to their lack of faith. It is the power of God, NOT OUR FAITH, that moves mountains, but faith MUST BE PRESENT to do so. The mustard seed was the smallest particle imaginable.
Even small or undeveloped faith would have been sufficient. Perhaps the disciples had tried to drive out the demon in their own ability rather than Gods'. There is great potential in even a little faith when God is with us.
If we feel weak or powerless as Christians, we should examine our faith, making sure we are trusting not in our own abilities to produce results, BUT IN GOD'S!
Lastly, N.I.V. Footnotes on verse 20:
Jesus wasn't condemning the disciples for substandard faith; He was trying to show how important faith would be in their future ministry. If you are facing a problem that seems as big and immovable as a mountain, turn your eyes from the mountain and look to Christ for more faith (Faith in God). Only then will your work for him become useful and vibrant!
Well reader, I hope I've given you sufficient data to stimulate or increase your desire, thirst and hunger for the knowledge of God.
Bye Now, Meetta
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