Regular Scripture reading schedules have a way of bringing me back around to texts that I both “enjoy” and “hate” at the same time. They are texts that speak of faith and prayer… and then I’m reminded, “Oh, yeah! That means I need to pray!”
Then, I pray my “immense” amount of time (probably 5 minutes) and give up.
“God doesn’t hear! What’s the use?!”
So I come to a passage like that again in this Advent season.
I come to it after reading this devastating article on Syria and how ISIS and Assad are still using chemical weapons. Something that was “supposed” to have been “dealt with” by our powerful government and other world “leaders” and still… it exists. My heart broke reading that article.
And then, I read the Gospel for today and come across this:
21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matt. 21:21-22)
Honestly… and I mean honestly… How can someone read THAT and think, “Oh, yeah! I’ll just pray the chemicals away!”
But there it is. Staring me in the face. It doesn’t matter HOW things like ISIS or Assad (the “president” of Syria) go down. That’s not my call. I can’t even ask for the how. What I need to do is command that they fall. THAT is the challenge.
So… why not? Our government hasn’t done anything more effective to this point, have they?
What if we, as believers, just began praying in earnest for the fall of ISIS and the removal of Assad? Just leave all the questions at the door. (Who would take his place? How would they be removed?) Just command the mountain to move.
Not just because ISIS and Assad are pure evil. Because they are oppressing their own people and no one cares.
Maybe… just maybe… some mountains would fall.
Every day… command the mountain to move.
Why not?
Apprentice 2 Jesus 