The Small Step of Faith
Devotional Reading: And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. Mark 3:5 KJV
Faith is a journey. You can’t straight away have a strong and big faith. To have such faith, you must be dare to take the first baby steps. Oftentimes, it so difficult to take this small step that many people fail by not taking it at all.
Mark 3: 1-6 tells of the healing of a man with a withered hand. This incident certainly changed the man’s life radically. However, where did the changes start? It was started with one small step that was taken by the man when Jesus said, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. (verse. 5).
Many people want to believe in Jesus by knowing everything in advance. Following Jesus doesn’t always work that way. We can’t wait to find out everything first before following Jesus! That is not the essence of faith.
Who among us knows the intricacies of electricity? Perhaps, most of us don’t know. However, we certainly don’t want to just sit in the dark, just because we don’t know anything about electricity yet. There are just two things we need to know: we need lighting, and electricity can provide that light. That’s what makes us use electricity.
We also don’t know much about how our digestive organs work. We cannot understand how food can be absorbed by the blood, bones, and other tissues. However, do any of us want to endure hunger just because we don’t know how the food will be digested?
The first step is small and simple. However, do not think of it as something trivial and easy. Jesus asked the man whose hand was paralyzed to stretch out his hand. Maybe it is easy for us, but it might not be an easy thing for him. He had to stretch out his lame hand! He certainly had to believe that Jesus could make the impossible possible.
Faith is equivalent to courage. We must not be
afraid to take the first small steps to believe.
Prayer and Confession
I am courageous and bold. I do not doubt, I’m obedient to the instructions of God.
Further Reading: Mark 3:1-12, Joshua 1:7-8
