What is faith anyway?

Reading Luke 18: 35-42 I'm struck by the faith of the blind man. There he is, sitting at the road, Probably begging as he had no other means of income. He'd probably been like this for some time, maybe he was born that way, maybe he was dropped as a child, maybe fallen into a fire - the Bible doesn't say. What we do know is that he was blind as a bat.

He hears commotion, a passing crowd, and asks people who walk by him what's going on. "Jesus of Nazareth is coming past! He's coming through our village!!".

His response showed that he had done more than just heard about Jesus. It was a response of utter faith. "Son of David" he cries out, "Have mercy on me!". It takes faith for anyone to cry out to God. Even today, it takes faith. But this blind man was doing more than just calling on God's name. He was calling on who he was.

Son of David. The promised messiah. Emmanuel. God with us. The chosen one. The redeemer.

Though blind he had read about and heard the gospel message from the Old Testament - and he cried out in faith. Not to a passing miracle worker, not to a faith healer, but to the living God. Son of David. The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. Such faith.

And we know the rest of the story. Jesus asks him what he wants (funny how he does that when to our eyes it's obvious - but yet another test of faith). "Lord, to receive my sight". And then the wondrous words, "Receive your sight, your faith has made you well".

Your faith. Faith to recognise Jesus for who He was. Faith to cry out to Him for mercy.

Cf Luke 18:8 - "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" - this after the parable of the persistent widow (I will appease he lest she weary me by her persistence).

Cf Luke 18:18-23 reference the rich young ruler.. "One thing you lack, sell what you have, give to the poor, then follow me".. the rich young ruler became sorrowful - why? Because he had great riches. He'd built them up, worked hard, took pride, gave him security, the toast of his colleagues. If the rich young ruler didn't follow Jesus it was because he lacked the faith. He believed that what he had now was better than what Jesus could give.

Faith. Faith to come into His presence with boldness. Faith to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Faith to believe He will make a way where there is no way. Faith to believe that He has lead us thus far, and He will not abandon us now. Faith that He remains faithful. Faith that He knows us, loves us, gives us grace, shows mercy.

Without faith it is impossible to please God - no matter what I do.

Faith perseveres. Faith endures. Faith never gives up. Faith is unshakable. Is that right? Only because the one in whom we put our faith has those characteristics.

If you have faith the size of a mustard seed.. you can say to this mountain jump into the sea - and it will! Any idea how big a mustard seed is? The size of a coconut? An Avocado stone? A conker? A acorn? Sunflower seed? Grain of wheat?

I've been told that the tallest trees in the world (Redwoods, semper simpervirens) have
the smallest seeds of any tree.. apart from the mustard tree. Apparently a mustard seed is typically about one millimeter wide (size of a grain of sugar, or poppy seed). More info here.

So faith, no matter how small grows, over time, into something very large. Compare with Luke 13:18-19 where the kingdom of heaven is likened to a mustard seed which grows into a large tree where birds nest in it's branches. It takes time to grow into a tree. It weathers all kinds of storms, droughts, wind, flooding. Day and night, summer and winter. But grow it does.

So, what is faith? Faith is holding on. Faith is believing when circumstances say the opposite. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. As a Christian, faith is believing God no matter what storm I find myself in, no matter how much I doubt the path I'm walking. He is faithful, and my faith is in His faithfulness.

Lord, help me to recognise and respond in faith to you. Not as a golden ticket, not as some circus act. And not just calling out a meaningless name. But as my saviour who loves me dearly, is for me and not against me, who shows me mercy all the days of my life.