Lord, Increase Our Faith

Bible Reading: Luke 17

Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

The apostles wanted to have their faith increased. They were like us and wanted to be strong in faith but it would seem they wanted to get zapped. They wanted Jesus to do something to them that would immediately make them more like him. First, he tells them that with faith there is no limitations.

Luke 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

This is what they wanted to hear! They wanted to be able to do the miraculous and the wonderful. But he continued with a parable.

Luke 17:7-9 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

Faith is not magic. It is not wishful thinking. Faith is to believe the promises of God. What Jesus is teaching is that if we want our faith increased, we need to be faithful with what we have been given. Believing God's word means that we obey what we read in it.

Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

There is work to do and true faith is like that of Noah who believed what God said and built an ark. If you want more faith, believe what you understand of God's word and put it into practice. Trust him to give you more! Remember, faith cometh by hearing (Romans 10:17).

Luke 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Hear and do! That is Biblical faith. Let us believe and obey and watch our faith grow as we study the Word of God.

In Christ,
Rody