I started reading Matthew 8 this morning and came across the line that tells us that Jacob is in the kingdom of heaven. When I read about Jacob in the OT, I read about all the times he messed up and how he was labeled a deceiver. Yet, he walked with God and believed God. I am encouraged to read this and my belief that Christianity is true is confirmed by the idea that someone like Jacob was saved by faith. If you keep reading in Matthew 8-9 and other places you see phrases like this often :
“ … it shall be done for you as you have believed…” and “ Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘ take courage, son, your sins are forgiven’ “ and “ it shall be done to you according to your faith….”
In Matthew 9:22 you find the phrase: “ Daughter, take courage, your faith has made you well…”
In Luke 22:31 Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail. You notice Jesus, as intercessor, praying that the faith of His children would not fail.
When Jesus prays for you, what does He pray ? Answer: that your faith would not fail.
If all this is true, then what can we do to “increase our faith” ?
#1. Ask for faith. The disciples said: “ Lord, increase our faith…”
#2 Listen to God’s word. Romans 10:17 “ faith comes hearing and hearing by the word of Christ…”
#3 Take risks. I think of Jonathan and his armor bearer who went up against 20 Philistines. Jonathan said: “ The Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few.”
