Is My Faith Contagious?

I read this recently, and I keep thinking back to it, so I wanted to think it through some.  

"We’ve been told the mustard seed verse means “even a tiny bit of faith is enough.”
But that’s not what Jesus actually was saying.

He said faith AS a mustard seed. KJV

And in His day, the mustard seed wasn’t seen as something delicate or small. It was an invasive plant that took over entire fields, choked out every other plant, and was impossible to remove.

That’s the kind of faith He was describing the disciples needed to have in Matt 17:20
Unstoppable. Unshakable. Outrageous.
The kind of faith that spreads until it overtakes fear, doubt, lies, and every man made system 🔥 

This meaning changes everything at least for me!
 Faith isn’t fragile. It isn’t “just a little.”
It’s meant to be so rooted and forceful that it looks crazy to the world, yet nothing can stop it in the Kingdom.

Learning the real meaning of this verse after years of never understanding it really blew my mind

So now knowing this, the real question is, is your faith as strong and rooted as a mustard seed!?"

I've been guilty of quoting it as it is in different translations, but the KJV, NKJV,  & ESV all say it like it is written above. Some translations are word for word, and others tried to translate the thought process. 

I have thought of, and read this passage many years, and felt challenged that I need my faith to grow. Which is true, but I also felt that my faith must be microscopic, since a mustard seed is to tiny. Which made me think occasionally, that I hadn't used it enough that it would grow.  

One thing that is true, is that the tiny mustard seed grows into a large tree, or at least it did in the times that Jesus spoke of it.  

(Photo of Mustard Tree taken from https://lessonsfromthegoalpost.com/2020/10/21/mustard-seed-opportunities/)

So, the seed, and the growth process described above, got my thoughts going. I looked up some information to see what I could find. 

Some of the characteristics of mustard as it grows are as follows:

1- One of the smallest seeds that grows into a large shrub or tree.

2- Mustard seeds are known to grow in unfavorable conditions like poor soil and adverse weather.

3- It can grow large enough to be a shelter for birds, and even provide shade for people.

Romans 12: 3 says, "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." - NKJV

I referred above to the underlined portion of this verse. God has dealt a measure of faith to each one. The word "measure" means a specific portion; and each one, means just what we think it does. 

I was given "a measure" of faith, that is the seed, it has the potential to grow large. It grows in unfavorable conditions. What can be related to the "poor soil and adverse weather conditions"? The difficult times, the trials, and attacks that I've been through, could be considered "adverse" conditions. 

These difficult times that I have been through make for wonderful growing conditions for my faith, even though they are not conditions that I would like to experience.

All problems can either take me deeper into His arms, knowing that He never changes. His character is that He is Good and He is Faithful. He is always with me!

Is my faith growing and it is contagious? I love the above description of mustard growth characteristics that got me thinking down this trail. 

"...mustard seed wasn’t seen as something delicate or small. It was an invasive plant that took over entire fields, choked out every other plant, and was impossible to remove."

It makes me think, self examination type of thinking. Is my faith invasive? Does it take over? Will it choke out the fears and the challenges to my faith? Is it impossible to remove?

How often do I let the difficulties I face take my eyes off the One that can help? How often to I let them distract me?? 

This week, I was told by someone that they had a dream and in it they saw me worshipping the Lord in dance, and it encouraged them to do the same thing. And then to add some humor to all of this, I woke up this morning to the song Locomotion, that was released in the early 70's. It is still a fun dance selection at parties and wedding receptions. =)  I can't say I've done the dance, but according to the lyrics, it's easy. LOL I felt like the key take away from waking up to this one, is it is a song that is recognizable. It is a song that a lot of people know the dance steps, and it's contagious! Not only contagious, people dancing it, encourage others to join in the dance! 

(Photo copied from https://share.google/images/Yly8Zf5MRKGyxUtpd)

So with my faith, and with my praise/worship- Am I contagious? Does my life of faith and worship cause others to want to join in?? I hope so!

Lord, I am humbled as I examine my heart and feel that I find myself lacking. Forgive me for the lack of faith and the times I have complained when I should have praised you. Forgive me for taking my eyes off of You, making the challenges or difficulties bigger in my eyes than I should. 

I choose to worship. I choose to believe. I love You and thank you for who You are to me, in my life. Thank you for always being here. Thank you for Your faithfulness, and Your goodness to me. Thank you for your love and your grace! 

Help my faith and my worship to be contagious!

Thank you, Lord!

Amen