Today’s Bible Verse

Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.” He ordered the afflicting demon out—and it was out, gone. From that moment on the boy was well. When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves, they asked, “Why couldn’t we throw it out?” “Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”

Matthew 17:18-20 (TMB)

Are We Taking God Seriously?

In verses 14-16, the Bible says that a man approached Jesus, begging him to help his demon-tormented son.  The father of the boy didn’t know what else to do; he had already asked Jesus’s disciples for help, but they were unable to.  Jesus of course healed the boy and cast out the demon that had been afflicting him. 

Can you imagine the scene that everyone just witnessed?  The power, the authority, the compassion to change the life of a young boy and family.  But Jesus was also passionate about his disciples, knowing the reason they were unable to cast out the demon.

But the question in the disciples’ minds was, “Why were we unable to cast out the demon?”  I mean, they walked with Jesus.  They ate with Jesus.  They saw all the miracles and wonders that He did.  They might have even said the same thing Jesus said.  I mean, this wasn’t the first time Jesus had done this in front of them.  Where was the disconnect?

The disconnect they had is the same disconnect that many Christians have today—not yet taking God seriously!  Wow!   Can you imagine Jesus telling you that you are not yet taking Him seriously?  Well Jesus, what do you mean?  I’m following you.  I’ve forsaken all.  I’m committed to your ways.   I go to church; I go to life group; what else am I supposed to do?

We need to understand that Jesus made the Matthew 17 statement because of one thing, faith.  The truth is simple: if we have faith the size of a poppy seed, we tell a mountain to move, and it moves. There is nothing we couldn’t tackle.

They couldn’t cast out the demon because they didn’t have faith.  They couldn’t believe as He had shown them to believe.  What happens when we don’t believe is that we start demanding that God do it for us.  And even though it’s within our power to speak His Word with expectation, we want God to do it for us—with no responsibility on our end.  (Pastor Orlando Sagarnaga, Word of Life Arizona)

Change My Story

“But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6, AMP).

This should be a wake-up call to us all!  Are we taking God seriously?  Are we speaking His language?  Are we willing to dream big for His kingdom?  See, the only way we are going to have victory is if we operate in faith.  Can we believe God by applying His Word over our lives, believing that it will come to pass?  Can we trust that the same resurrection power inside of Him is now inside of us?

Today’s Declaration

Lord, by my confession of faith, I am taking you seriously!  I will not bend to what I see.  I believe what is unseen.  I have the anointed one residing on the inside of me, and I can do all things through Christ Jesus Who strengthens me!

Today’s Bible Reading

• Old Testament: Nehemiah 8; Proverbs 12:1-14
• New Testament: Luke 17:20-37; 2 Timothy 2:14-26