Mountain Moving FaithExemplo

In Luke chapter 17, Jesus begins explaining to the disciples that offenses will come, “but woe to him, through whom they do come!” (NKJV). This is a great foundational verse for us today. In life we will experience offenses through close relationships as well as strangers. We are not to think it strange when these things occur. Jesus cautions us in verse 3 to “take heed”, meaning to pay attention to these offenses, trespasses, and how you choose to handle them internally. In one instance, Jesus’ desire for us is to confront or rebuke our brother or sister in Christ, in a loving way. Jesus' wisdom behind this is that the individual should repent, for you to forgive them, and thus, you will have saved your heart from harboring unforgiveness.

Jesus goes on to say that if offenses occurs seven times in a day, each time they should be forgiven. It’s not that Jesus wants us to keep score. Instead, He is laying the principle that we ought to always forgive. This was a hard concept for the disciples, just as it is for us in our current culture. But it is right! 

The disciples prayed, “Lord, increase our faith.” (verse 5) This is significant in this teaching because when we think about faith and moving mountains, we think about our prayers, our needs, and our desires. But Jesus was more concerned with our heart posture and keeping it pure and clean. It is never God’s desire for us to harbor resentment, anger, bitterness, or unforgiveness towards those who have wounded us deeply. I know this to be true in my own life. After being in a marriage with an unfaithful spouse and experiencing the deep wounds of betrayal and rejection, I needed Jesus to increase my faith so that I could forgive my offenders. If you have experienced offenses, you will need God to move this mountain from your life as well. Forgiveness precedes healing.

Jesus finished this section on faith and forgiveness with this charge in verse 6, “...if you have faith as a mustard seed,... you can...” Those words should offer hope to your situation today. No matter what the offense is, there is a grain of faith that God offers you today that can free your heart from unforgiveness.

If you have experienced recurring offenses or if you have a mountain in your life that involves truly forgiving someone and moving forward, I encourage you to offer a prayer such as this: 

“Lord, I come to you as humbly as I am able. Lord, I no longer want to wrestle with the thoughts of what has happened to me, why it happened, and how I can get revenge. I want to trust that vengeance is yours and that you will take care of my offenders as well as the healing of my heart. I ask that you increase my faith and move this mountain of unforgiveness from my life, forever. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”