Faith: A Choice

Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages:

Matthew 13

Matthew chapter 13 marks a shift in Jesus' teaching methodology with the crowds following Him. His shift was from revealing direct concepts to the use of parables which hid the truth behind the parable from the unbelieving mind. Jesus made this shift when it became apparent that the Jews, as a whole, where rejecting Him. By using parables those whose minds were open to receive what He taught could continue to learn from Him, but the truths of His teaching would be hidden from those whose minds were closed.

In revealing to His disciples His reason for using parables, Jesus gave an important principle: "whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away." (Matthew 13:12) The ability to understand is not the key to discerning spiritual things. It is faith. If one is open to receive what is revealed to them, they will be given understanding. An understanding that is spiritually discerned.

Something else we learn from Jesus' statement in 13:12 is that faith is a choice. People make statements such as, "I wish I had faith, but I just don't," or "I wish I could believe, but I just can't." Such statements misunderstand the nature of faith seeming to imply that faith is an ability that one either has or does not have. But Jesus' statement in Matthew says to us that faith is not an ability, but rather a choice. Nor does faith come only as a result of full understanding. It is FIRST a choice. And with that choice to believe understanding will follow. If one chooses to believe, more and more understanding will be given. But for those who choose not to believe, understanding is closed off.