Friday, June 08, 2012
I read about a Pastor who brought a thimble and a bucket up to the stage. He said to the audience, "If you bring God a thimble, He will most likely fill it. If you bring God a bucket, He will most likely fill it." And then he asked, "What are you bringing God today?"
What a graphic illustration. If you ask God for a little peace, a little security, a little provision, a little comfort and protection to make it through the day, He will probably fill your thimble.
But what if you asked God to make your life a daring adventure of faith? What if you asked him to use you way beyond what you think your capable? What if you asked God to pour out His blessings on the people around you, the people you see and the people that you live with? What if you ask God to make you a radiant servant of His love and grace to everyone you meet? If you bring God a bucket, He'll probably fill it. What kind of faith are you bringing to God?
I re-read some stories this week about Jesus and people of faith. In these stories, Jesus points out people who have great faith (they are bringing a bucket to him) and people who have little faith (they are bringing a thimble to him). It's an interesting and instructive study. Here are some of the stories:
What kind of faith are you bringing Jesus?
What a graphic illustration. If you ask God for a little peace, a little security, a little provision, a little comfort and protection to make it through the day, He will probably fill your thimble.
But what if you asked God to make your life a daring adventure of faith? What if you asked him to use you way beyond what you think your capable? What if you asked God to pour out His blessings on the people around you, the people you see and the people that you live with? What if you ask God to make you a radiant servant of His love and grace to everyone you meet? If you bring God a bucket, He'll probably fill it. What kind of faith are you bringing to God?
I re-read some stories this week about Jesus and people of faith. In these stories, Jesus points out people who have great faith (they are bringing a bucket to him) and people who have little faith (they are bringing a thimble to him). It's an interesting and instructive study. Here are some of the stories:
- The disciples follow Jesus into a boat and without warning a furious storm came upon the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was asleep in the boat and the disciples were freaking out. After waking Jesus and screaming that they were going to lose their lives, Jesus replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" (Matthew 8:23-27)
- Again, the disciples are on a boat and Jesus walks out to them on the water. They freak out again. Thinking that Jesus was a ghost, Jesus shouts out to his fearful followers, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Peter boldly asks to get out of the boat and walk on the water to Jesus. Jesus grants his request. But after looking at the waves and feeling the wind, he became frightened and began to sink. Jesus comes to the rescue and says to Peter, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:23-33).
- Another boat story. The disciples get into the boat to go across the lake and forget to take bread. Jesus says to them, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?" (Matthew 16:7-9)
- A Centurion came and asked Jesus to heal his paralyzed servant. Jesus told this man that he would come to his house and heal him. The Centurion expressed to Jesus that he wasn't worthy for Jesus to enter into his house. He told Jesus these amazing words, "If you just say the word my servant will be healed." Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." (Matthew 8: 5-13)
- A Canaanite woman cried out to Jesus one day, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me. My daughter is suffering from demon possession." Jesus did not answer her. The woman kept on. She knelt before Him and Jesus said to her, "It's not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." Her faith wouldn't waver. She said to Jesus, "Yes, Lord. All I'm asking for is a few crumbs." Jesus said to her, "Woman, you have great faith."
What kind of faith are you bringing Jesus?
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