Faith or Harvest?

Daily Reading: Matthew 9

Scripture Focus: When he entered the house, the blind men came 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, “According to your faith be it done to you.”  And their eyes were opened. (Matthew 9.28-30a, ESV)

Devotional Thought: I have been thinking about the ninth chapter of Matthew all week long, wondering how I would be able to narrow it down to one discussion point.  A lot happens in this chapter: a paralytic walks, a dumb man speaks, two blind men see, a dead girl lives and a woman bleeding internally for 12 years is healed.  PLUS, Matthew is called, fasting is discussed, the great commission is established and the Great Physician has come to call not the righteous, but sinners.  I wanted to discuss the Great Harvest because of the great burden God has laid upon my heart lately.  Yet, I am struck by how much faith plays into this chapter.  Faith is a key ingredient to receiving forgiveness from sin and healing from Jesus. 

I mistakenly thought that for a devotional I would need to choose between faith and the Great Harvest.  Then I thought of my friends, Amrit and Mercy.  They are dual citizens of Pakistan and the United States.  They spend half the year in Pakistan and the other half in Syracuse, New York, where they pastor a church.  With just 36 dollars and a LOT of faith, the Lord built their church.  So, God in his providence reminded me that the harvest and faith are inseparable.  You cannot partake in the harvest without faith.  Faith is essential not just for healing and the forgiveness of sins, but also for serving the Lord of the Harvest, building churches, and shining God’s light into this dark world. 

Amanda Walker

Prayer: Lord, "wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." Thank you for your great and inescapable mercies. Please grant me the faith I need to follow you all the days of my life, Amen. (Psalm 139:14)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 83.1-8

1 O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!

2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads.

3 They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones.

4 They say, "Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!"

5 For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant--

6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,

7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

8 Asshur also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah