I have been pondering the scripture (Matt. 17:20) about that mustard seed for quite some time. In fact, we put down the NIV Bible when we saw that it interpreted this scripture as ‘faith as small as a mustard seed.’

I think the King James version is more accurate: And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Last night, Kwame and Abigail came over to comfort us. Abigails’ mother died around Thanksgiving 2004, and then her brother died a few months later, right around the time poor Abigail had finally come to grips with her mother’s death.

She had spiralled into a cycle of depression, and had dropped out of life for a period of time. Kwame and Abigail are in our small group. Our last meeting, two weeks ago, was the first time Abigail had come to a meeting in many months. She is usually very quiet in the group setting.

Last night, she was very animated, and we were talking about grieving, remembering our mothers, etc. It was a good conversation. And then it got better.

Curtis and Abigail started talking about faith. Curtis mentioned that faith is the currency of the Kingdom. Then he made a great analogy about faith being money. “What if you wanted to buy something that required $20,000, and you only had $500? You wouldn’t have enough money to buy it. What if you wanted a healing worth $250,000, and you only had $10,000 worth of faith? You need more money. And how do you get more money?”

And Abigail brought up that mustard seed. “The Bible says, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed. . . ” Curtis interrupted her to point out that it didn’t say as small as, but as a mustard seed. Abigail continued on her point. She said that the mustard seed is so small and insignificant, and she never understood that scripture, but now maybe she does.

My ears perked up. I have had a hard time understanding that scripture as well.

She said, “When I trust God with little things, then my faith grows.”
Curtis jumped in: “I think it has something to do with trust. . .”
Kwame interrupted, “Faith comes by hearing. . . ”
Abigail: “And hearing by the Word of God. Yes, I know. . .”
. . .and. ..
the revelation was fleeting.

The doorbell rang. The C(h)ristinas from my Spanish small group came by to offer condolences.

Our Bible study broke up. To be continued. . .