A Serving Leadership Insight from the Life of Jesus Christ (Mark 11:22-23)

“‘Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered. ‘Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” (Mark 11:22-23)

In Mark 11:22–23 Jesus used an interesting metaphor to discuss faith. “If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them,” Jesus declared. First, understand that the phrase, “moving mountains,” was used by other rabbis to describe overcoming seemingly impossible difficulties. That is not to say that moving physical mountains may never be God’s will. However, concluding that one can simply amplify one’s faith to get whatever one wants is a grave misinterpretation of this passage. Jesus prefaced this statement with “Have faith in God” versus “have faith in your faith.” Consider how crazy our world would be if everyone controlled the Master of the universe with their own amped up amplified faith power? Imagine the products of our selfishness or the conflicts of interest by everyone who “prayed in faith.” Our faith is in God alone. 

KEY QUESTIONS: Which “mountains” do I believe currently need to be moved? How might I “pray in faith” regarding these “mountains?” How might not receiving answers to my prayers be harmful to my relationship with God if my faith is not in him alone?