Jesus said to his disciples, … “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.”
Luke 17:3-6
Increase My Faith
Daily Devotion – October 14, 2018
Devotion based on Luke 17:3-6
See series: Devotions
Speaking to his disciples, Jesus addressed the issue of faith. His lesson focused their attention on the importance of this precious gift from God. As I listen to Jesus’ lesson, I find myself saying the same thing the apostles did, “Lord, increase my faith!”
It is a challenging situation. Is more faith needed to forgive someone, or is more faith needed to tell a tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea? Jesus’ point is not to decide which requires more faith. Rather, he stresses the importance of faith in a person’s life.
While some may maintain faith is unnecessary or it is only for the weak, Jesus provides a completely different perspective. It is possible for me to forgive someone who “sins” in a general way. It becomes a completely different situation when a person sins against me. Then it would be easier to tell a tree to be uprooted. However, faith makes what may seem impossible, possible.
Jesus emphasizes the power of faith. It not only trusts the words and promises of God, it puts them into practice. Faith takes hold of me, a sinner, and changes me. I receive sight to see what is pleasing to God. I receive new life to rejoice in being called a child of God. I even receive the ability to willingly do what God commands.
This is why I join the disciples in their prayer. I recognize my weakness to please God. I also recognize my hesitancy to trust and practice what he desires. Yet through faith, I can rejoice in what my Savior has done for me, and desires for me. No wonder I daily pray, “Lord, increase my faith!”
Prayer:
Dear Savior, I thank you for the gift of faith which brings me peace through the forgiveness of my sins and leads me to delight in doing what you desire. In humility and confidence, I ask you to increase my faith. Amen.
This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.
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