Great Faith

“The word ‘faith’ occurs twenty-one times in Hebrews eleven. The expression ‘through faith’ occurs five times, and the expression ‘by faith’ is used thirteen times. It is the record of the overcoming, victorious faith of the heroes of the Old Testament. These heroes had more than simple saving faith by which they believed unto salvation. In addition, they had faith which resulted in sacrifice, separation, and service. It was a faith which did not stand still but ‘went on to perfection’. It was a growing, developing, increasing faith which resulted in victory at any cost. We must distinguish between saving faith and obedient faith. Thousands of believers have trusted Christ for their salvation, but are not obeying Him in service. It is a strange paradox that Christians will trust God for their souls’ eternal salvation, but dare not trust Him with their bodily needs. They have committed their eternal destiny into His hands by faith, but fail to yield and surrender their temporal things to Him, and trust Him for the things of this life. They are anxious and fearful, and worry about their temporal supply, their health, business and possessions, instead of trusting Him for these just as implicitly as they have trusted Him for eternal life. There is a ‘little’ faith, which fails to give perfect peace, and there is a ‘great’ faith which claims the victory. Jesus rebuked his disciples for their ‘little’ faith, but commended a poor, outcast Gentile mother for her ‘great’ faith.

Matthew 15:21-28

“And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” (v22)

- “But He did not answer her a word.” (v23)

“But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’ (v25)

- “And He answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” (v26)

“But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” (v27)

- “Then Jesus said to her, ‘O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish’. And her daughter was healed at once.” (15:28)

“It was a faith which would not be discouraged or denied, a faith which could not be insulted. She was willing to take the humblest place, make any sacrifice to win His favor. …What kind of faith is yours?”

Quoted from “Hebrews: Twenty-Six simple studies in God’s pattern for victorious living” by M.R. DeHaan, M.D.