Faith In Action

Our Scripture today comes from Luke. It’s a fascinating passage, one that at first seems like two unrelated teachings pressed together, but when we look closer, we discover a thread that ties them beautifully.

The disciples come to Jesus and say, “Increase our faith!” (v. 5). That’s the kind of prayer we can all relate to, isn’t it? Lord, increase my faith. Help me to trust you more. Help me to believe when doubts creep in. Help me to have confidence when the storms of life rage.

But Jesus’ answer is unexpected. He says, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” (v. 6)

And then, almost abruptly, he shifts to a parable about a servant doing their duty, reminding his disciples not to expect praise for simply doing what is required.

At first, those two teachings seem disconnected. But if we dig deeper, we find that both are about what faith truly looks like in everyday life, not as something grand and dramatic, but as something humble, steady, and obedient.

The disciples’ request comes after a challenging teaching.

Just a few verses earlier, Jesus told them they must forgive others again and again…even seven times in a single day if necessary. That’s hard! No wonder the disciples say, “Lord, increase our faith!”

They realize that to live as Jesus calls them to live, they’ll need more faith than they currently have. They feel inadequate. They feel like their spiritual tank is running low.

Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you’ve said, “Lord, if only I had more faith, I could handle this diagnosis. If only I had more faith, I could forgive this person. If only I had more faith, I could endure this trial. If only I had more faith, I could believe more deeply.”

That’s where the disciples are. They feel that gap between what Jesus is calling them to and what they feel capable of.

But Jesus doesn’t respond by giving them a spiritual infusion of more faith. He doesn’t say, “Here, let me give you a double portion.” Instead, he says, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed…”

Now, mustard seeds are tiny. About one or two millimeters in diameter. If you dropped one on the floor, you’d have a hard time finding it again.

And yet, in the ancient world, mustard plants could grow up to ten feet tall. So the mustard seed became a symbol of small beginnings that lead to great results.

Jesus is saying: it’s not about the size of your faith, it’s about the power of the One you put your faith in. Even the smallest amount of genuine faith can unleash God’s power in extraordinary ways.

A seed is small, but it is alive. It has potential. It doesn’t stay small. When planted, it grows, and in growing, it transforms the landscape.

Faith works the same way. You may feel like your faith is tiny, just a mustard seed, but if it’s real, if it’s planted in God, it has power beyond what you imagine.

Then Jesus uses a striking image: “You could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

The mulberry tree was known for its deep roots. Some said they could last hundreds of years. Uprooting a mulberry tree was nearly impossible. Planting it in the sea was absurd…trees don’t grow in the ocean.

So what’s Jesus saying? He’s saying that faith, even faith as small as a mustard seed, can overcome what looks impossible. Faith can uproot what seems immovable. Faith can do what seems absurd.

Now, does that mean if you just muster up enough faith, you’ll never face problems? No. Jesus himself had perfect faith, and yet he suffered and was crucified. Faith doesn’t mean life becomes easy. But faith does mean that with God, the impossible becomes possible.

Faith can uproot bitterness that seems too deep to heal. Faith can plant hope where it seems there is no soil. Faith can move us to forgive when it feels impossible. Faith can give us courage to keep going when we feel like giving up.

Years ago, I sat with a couple in my office. Their marriage was on the brink. Words had been spoken that cut deeply. Trust had been broken. They looked at me and said, “Pastor, we don’t see a way forward. The roots of hurt run too deep.”

I prayed with them. And then I said, “What if you start small? What if, instead of trying to solve everything at once, you each do one simple act of kindness for the other each day this week? Just one thing.”