What kind of faith does Jesus actually recognize? | Jesus Sees Our Faith | 05 18 2026 Your Daily Portion Sabbath School Lesson with LD “The Anomaly” Harris (L. David Harris) Not all faith looks the same, and not everyone who follows Jesus has strong faith. In Mark 4:40, Jesus challenged His disciples for their fear and lack of trust, even after they had seen His power. But in Matthew 15, the woman who came pleading for her daughter showed persistent, humble, and courageous faith. She would not let go, even when tested. Jesus honored that kind of faith. Luke 7 adds another powerful example. The centurion did not demand that Jesus come physically to his house. He believed that Christ’s word alone had authority to heal. That is remarkable faith, trust in Jesus’ power without needing visible proof or personal advantage. It was faith rooted in confidence in who Jesus is. Then there is the father in Mark 9, who cried out, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” That prayer is deeply honest. It reminds us that faith does not have to be flawless to be real. Jesus responds not only to strong faith, but also to struggling faith that reaches toward Him. This lesson also warns us that unbelief, if cherished, can grow like a poisonous plant. Doubt is not harmless when it is fed by repeated suspicion, neglect of God’s Word, or refusal to trust His character. But doubt can be confronted. Ellen G. White says the roots of unbelief must be dug up, while faith and love must be planted and nourished in the heart. So what do we do with doubts? We do not pretend they are not there, and we do not enthrone them. We bring them honestly to God. He is not threatened by sincere questions. He invites us to reason with Him, to learn His ways, and to trust Him even where we do not fully understand. Real faith is not the absence of questions. It is the decision to keep turning toward Jesus with trust, humility, and persistence. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Mark 4:40 Matthew 15:21 to 28 John 2:23 to 25 Luke 7:1 to 10 Mark 9:24 KEY THEMES: Jesus distinguishes between weak, growing, and strong faith Persistent and humble faith is precious in His sight Real faith trusts Christ’s word and authority Honest faith can still say, help my unbelief Doubt must be confronted, not cherished REFLECTION: What best describes your faith right now, fearful, persistent, confident, or struggling? What doubt do you need to bring honestly to Jesus instead of quietly feeding it? PRAYER: Lord, You see my faith and my weakness. Strengthen what is weak, uproot unbelief, and teach me to trust Your character, Your Word, and Your power more deeply. CONNECT: https://yourdailyportion.com LifeTalk Radio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music Subscribe for Daily Devotionals #BibleStudy #HavingFaith #JesusSeesOurFaith #Mark4 #Matthew15 #Luke7 #HelpMyUnbelief #SabbathSchool #YourDailyPortion #LDavidHarris
