I pluck an acorn and hold it to my ear, and this is what it says to me: “By and by the birds will come and nest in me. By and by I will furnish shade for the cattle. By and by I will provide warmth for the home. By and by I will be shelter from the storm to those who have gone under the roof. By and by I will be the strong ribs of a great vessel, and the tempest will beat against me in vain, while I carry men across the Atlantic.” “O foolish little acorn, wilt thou be all this?” I ask. And the acorn answers, “Yes, God and I.”
– Lyman Abbott (Leaves of Gold, pg. 111)
The Bible is not timid about proclaiming the power of God. Words of scripture that come to mind might include “for nothing will be impossible for God” (Luke 1:37), God is “able to do exceedingly more than we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20), or everyone’s favorite, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Yes, each of these verses have their unique contexts. Regardless, they are just a few of nearly countless passages that remind us of the immeasurable potential that lies with God.
One of the amazing things about God’s power is the access we are given to it. We are permitted the privilege of participating in the work of God. All it takes is a little faith. According to Jesus, faith no larger than a mustard seed can unleash mountain-moving power (see Matthew 17:20). Incredible, isn’t it? Ask your everyday Christian if they believe Jesus’ claim is true, and almost without fail they will tell you yes. Ask the same Christian if they believe Jesus’ claim can be accomplished in their own life, and you might see them begin to hesitate. Somehow it seems out of reach for many when God’s power becomes personal.
Consider again what Jesus said. “Truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” The word “you” occurs four times in that brief statement. This was not a statement reserved for the top echelon of Christian disciples. It was meant for everyday Jesus followers whose names will never be known throughout the centuries. Through people like this, people like you and me, Jesus envisions great things.
What did the acorn know? That God had great things in mind for it. The acorn knows that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). The acorn knows that the only reason it is not yet a mighty oak tree is that God hasn’t finished working with it. So maybe it’s not so much about the size of one’s faith, but rather the size of one’s God. A little faith + an awesome God = limitless possibility.
See you along the Winding Path.
The Winding Path 