Exhortation

When He visited His hometown, Jesus didn’t do many acts of power. Matthew tells us He didn’t do much “because of their unbelief.”

We Reformed Christians have a hard time taking this seriously. Matthew doesn’t sound truly Reformed. Isn’t God’s grace irresistible? Isn’t God sovereign? Does He have to wait for us to act? Hasn’t Matthew read the Canons of Dordt or the Westminster Confession of Faith? Is Matthew going charismatic on us?

The Bible does, of course, teach that God is sovereign Lord. If God wants to do something, He will. He doesn’t have to wait on us to act. We are not obstacles but agents of His will.

Yet, the very same Bible teaches that God gives and works in proportion to our faith. In Nazareth , Jesus responds to unbelief, but He often responds to faith by performing miracles.

Jesus marvels at the faith of the centurion, and heals his servant. He tells the woman with the flow of blood, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has saved you.” As he heals two blind men, He says, “Be it done to you according to your faith.” To the Syro-Phoenician woman, He says “Your faith is great; be it done to you as you wish.”

So, ask yourself: If Jesus said to you, “be it done according to your faith,” would that be good news?