Increase our faith

“The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is interesting that these verses come after Jesus taught on forgiveness. We would also be joining in this request as to continuing forgiving the same person all day, as they repeatedly sin against us and ask forgiveness, is huge.

However, Jesus tells them they have enough faith in the above illustration. They only needed faith as small as a mustard seed, which is very small. So then, what was the problem? Unbelief? Disobedience?

Jesus goes on in verses 7-10 to teach about servanthood and obedience. The lesson Jesus gives is of a servant who has been ploughing in the field and then comes in a prepares dinner. He first feeds his master then himself. This illustration and teaching would not go down well today. We would expect the master to be so pleased that we had worked in the field all morning that lunch would be prepared for us. However, Jesus said, “In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.”Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do we consider ourselves unworthy servants? Probably not! How far have we been infiltrated by the pride of our enemy? Forgive us Lord! Amen!