01/23/2026
How is your faith? Are you strong in it, or is it lacking in some regard? Can you move a mountain, or do you think your faith is too small to move even a grain of sand? The disciples were chastised by Jesus on more than one occasion for their lack of faith, so do not lose heart, but ask Him why you can’t do a thing, or why you don’t receive the ability to perform a miracle. You may find that in some cases it has less to do with faith than you think.
“Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."”
Matthew 17:19-20 ESV
In this case Jesus is speaking to them specifically about their lack of faith, but is that always true? I love the mustard seed comparison that Jesus uses here. He does it again in Luke 17: 6 when His disciples ask Him to increase their faith. But is He really telling them that they need a larger quantity of faith when He says this?
“The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.”
Luke 17:5-6 ESV
Here in Luke 17, Jesus says that they only need a little faith to accomplish these things, and obviously the disciples have healed and performed miraculous things before, so what is the message here? I think we get the real idea when Jesus goes immediately into the parable of The Unworthy Servants. In it He speaks of servants that come in from the field, but the master doesn’t tell them to join him in rest at his table... no, he tells them to dress, fix his meal, and serve it to him, before they will be allowed to eat. Listen to what Jesus says:
“Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"”
Luke 17:9-10 ESV
Before we can eat, or before we can cast out demons, we must first do what is expected of us, we are foremost to do the masters bidding, His will, and in so doing we are not rewarded, not thanked, but just given our normal sustenance. We aren’t meant to expect a pat on the back just because we did what we should have been doing all along.
However, when someone has done a good job, you might hear their boss say that he is going to “throw them a bone.” In the case of miracles we need to have faith, but more than that, we need to serve the will of God before we are then “thrown a bone” or allowed to exercise a gift that the master has given us for our own edification.
It isn’t all about our faith which only has to be the size of a mustard seed to do monumental things. So, what is it? What is the gist of the parable? The gist is that a master never owes the servant... the servant is indebted to the master. Everything we do is at the beck and call of God, and to think that we are owed anything special from Him for doing His will is ludicrous. God gives to us by His grace. We are given the gifts of the spirit to do the master’s bidding and to do so at his pleasure. When we are allowed to heal, or to interpret dreams, or to prophesy, it is in service to God... not to increase us in any way.
So, in Luke 17 we get the impression that the disciples felt they DESERVED to have the power to do these things...well, they had lost sight of God’s will, and grace in this. But, on occasion, God does reward us. On occasion, He allows us to heal or do the other things for Him that edify us... that increase us in OUR faith, or even to increase OUR stature so that some greater thing can be done through us for His honor and glory.
So today we have learned that faith is important, but that it is also powerful and a little goes a long way. However, the thing we need to remember in this lesson is to couple God’s will with our faith. In this way we are servants of God, and we are meant to do and obey His will. We need to remember that we receive grace despite being undeserving and we receive it at our Holy Father’s pleasure. Are we ready to have just the right amount of faith and to do God’s will always? Are we prepared and expecting Him to perform miracles through us?
““I [Jesus] can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”
John 5:30 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the times you allow me to heal or participate in some other miracle for you. Thank you for the humility of servitude, and for directing me in your will. Holy Father, my faith is without a body to confine it, and without measure; a teardrop of faith can fill the ocean, so help me in my faith Father for only you can see it for what it is and give me just enough understanding of it so that I can faithfully do your will. Give me tears of faith Lord so that when you say “move the mountain” I can turn to it and whisper “move”, and have it be done. Never let me lose sight of your will in my life and let your Spirit speak to me when I seek you in things unknown. Help me Father to couple my faith together with your will, so that I can do those things you ask of me. Let your grace flow through me and bless others. As I come in from the field Father, correct me when I expect to rest at your table before I dress, and serve you. Never let me expect praise and glory for those things that are expected of me as your child and humble servant, because only you are great, and I am but a tool in your hand. Holy, Holy, Holy, art thou my God; the God of tears, faith, and purpose. Holy art thou who lives in each breath that becomes my voice as I command the mountains when I speak your will. Hear my praise Lord and know my desire that in all I do at your command, and within your will, will come to glorify you. I ask this in the name of Jesus who taught me of you, and how to pray within your will.
““Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.””
John 14:12-14 ESV
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen!
Rich Forbes