It’s tough to live as a Christian in this world. It’s tough because it’s not always so clear what path is right and what path is wrong. Even when the choice is clear it’s not always so easy to make the right one. When I’ve made the wrong choice it’s not always easy to admit my sin to God. Nor is it easy to admit that as a sinner there have been many times that I’ve been responsible for bringing pain and anguish into my life and into the lives of other people.
In the text for this morning Jesus is talking to his disciples about what it means to live as one of his followers in this life. As we listen to what Jesus says to his disciples of the first century we hear his words ring true for us his disciples of the 21st century. We listen as he urges his disciples of all time to deal with sin seriously and as he assesses their lives honestly. As we listen to Jesus discuss Christian living we too will be moved together with Jesus’ disciples in the text to urge our Savior to: Increase our Faith!
As Jesus talks to his disciples he tells them that as his disciples he wants them to deal with sin seriously. Just listen to the serious way in which he speaks: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin” (Luke 17:1,2). The sin Jesus is addressing is the sin that occurs in the lives of each of his disciples. Jesus is telling his disciples to conduct themselves at all times and at all places in a way that is God-pleasing and appropriate. Why is that important? Because people will be watching, and some of those people may be young in the faith or new to the faith. Should those people observe the disciples living recklessly or speaking carelessly it could become a stumbling block to their faith. As Jesus speaks this serious threat against those who cause others to stumble in their walk of faith he shows how serious he is about dealing with sin. Jesus wants each of his disciples to remember this threat whenever their sinful nature flares up tempting them to be hasty with their words or irresponsible in their actions.
Jesus also wants his disciples to deal seriously with the sins of others. Jesus tells his disciples to be ready to rebuke other people’s sins. The word “rebuke” carries the idea of a frank but gentle admonition, in other words, politely tell the person what he has done wrong. Jesus wants his disciples to rebuke other people’s sins with the goal of leading them to repentance. Jesus is so insistent on this goal that he says, “If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him” (Luke 17:4). Of course, Jesus isn’t setting a limit at 7. He’s making this strong point: always be ready to seriously deal with sin however often it occurs – by pointing it out, leading to repentance, and pronouncing forgiveness.
Jesus’ admonition still applies to us today. We too must be diligent as we seriously deal with sin. As a congregation we need to be on guard against sin in our own lives that becomes a detriment to those who are new in the faith. Jesus’ words are a reprimand to our lazy flesh that isn’t concerned about doing all we can to welcome new Christians into our presence and make them feel a part of our Christian family. Jesus’ warning also keeps us on guard against traditionalism. Traditionalism is a stubborn insistence on doing things the way we’ve always done them just because that’s the way we’ve always done them, without carefully considering how well those things serve us as a congregation. Of course we cannot change what God’s Word teaches us – God doesn’t give us the right to do that. But there are many things that he leaves to us to decide in our Christian freedom to serve the needs of our congregation. In those things that we are free to change we need to be open and willing to change if a change would better serve the current needs of our congregation, which includes the needs of those who may be new to our congregation.
Jesus’ words also help us deal seriously with sin in others. As much as we wish we would never have problems in our congregation we are reminded that such a dream isn’t possible on this side of heaven since we’re all sinners. But what Jesus makes clear is that it is possible for us to handle sin seriously and correctly especially within our congregation. When one of our fellow Christians sins against us – our response should not be to stew over it, or backstab, or hold a grudge. Jesus directs us to frankly yet gently point out that person’s wrongs with a desire to lead that person to repentance so that we might have the great pleasure of assuring them of forgiveness. As people whom God has graciously forgiven unconditionally we want to make it our goal to share that same type of forgiveness as we interact with one another.
Those are some pretty tall demands that Jesus makes of his disciples of all times. You hear his disciples’ response in the text, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). That’s our response too, isn’t it? After all it seems like it would take great faith to follow through on those directives that Jesus has just given us. Jesus grants that request – but not necessarily in the way that we might expect. Jesus increases our faith as he assesses us honestly.
In his response Jesus honestly assesses his disciples. Here’s what he says, “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 17:6). What is Jesus’ point? On the one hand he is acknowledging that the disciples are correct that it does take faith to do what Jesus asks. But in a very poignant way Jesus declares that even a very small amount of faith – can do amazing things – like uprooting a rather large tree and replanting it in the middle of the sea if that was what God commanded them to do. If the disciples aren’t doing what Jesus asks – it’s not as though Jesus is at fault for failing to make their faith strong enough. It’s because they’re failing to put whatever size faith they may have into action. With these words Jesus is encouraging them to quit making excuses and put their faith into action. When they do they will be amazed at what God will enable them to do.
At the same time Jesus also issues a caution against getting caught up in the great things that faith can do and forgetting about the one to whom their works of service are to be directed. Jesus uses a very short parable about a servant and a master. He wants his disciples to imagine that they have hired a servant and are paying that servant a hefty wage to take care of things around the estate including plowing in the fields and serving dinner. When it came time for dinner would the master be out of place in telling his servant to wait on him? When the servant does wait on him does the master have an obligation to be extra grateful to the servant just because he did what he was hired to do? Of course not!
So also with the disciples as they lived their Christian lives. They had been purchased at the highest price – by the blood of God’s own Son. As they put their faith into action and begin to see the great things that God would accomplish through them they need to be on guard against thinking that they deserve some sort of reward from God. After all if their works were to flow from a heart of faith they had to be motivated by thankfulness not a greedy, misguided desire to obtain some sort of reward from God. Finally they are only servants of the Master. In living a Christian life they have only done what their Master has asked them to do. That’s why Jesus encourages them to remain humble in their lives of faith when he reminds them to consider themselves as unworthy servants. In the end they wouldn’t have been able to do anything had Jesus not willingly paid the ultimate price for them. In a masterful way as Jesus speaks he not only gives his disciples an honest assessment of their lives he also increases their faith as he faithfully applies his law and gospel to their hearts.
We too need that honest assessment from Jesus – especially at this time in our existence as a congregation. Following this worship service we will meet to discuss our pending building project and agree to accept the terms of the loan commitment extended to us by the financing arm of our church body. Included as part of the terms of that loan is a commitment from our congregation to raise $38,000 more dollars before May of next year to meet our down payment obligations. We could refuse the loan that has been extended to us because we don’t think that we can possibly come up with that much cash in such a short time. But in a meeting on Thursday evening, October 11th, the leadership of this congregation expressed its strong conviction that God is presenting us with an opportunity to live by faith today. After all if we believe that God could empower us with mustard-seed sized faith to uproot and replant large trees in the ocean if that were his will then is there any question that he can use us to meet this challenge according to his will? As we prepare to step forward with confident faith ready to do amazing things to honor our Lord may we do so with a heart that is grateful for the amazing things that he has done for us. After all we too are only unworthy servants whom he has called his own through the blood of his Son. With joy and thanksgiving we gather to hear what he has done for us so that we might do as he pleases with all that we have in service to him. As he gives us his honest assessment he increases our faith even today!
Sure it may be difficult to live as a Christian – but it’s also exhilarating, exciting, and eternally fulfilling! What exhilaration to hear and to taste and to feel the great things that God has done for us. How fulfilling to be used in his service! How exciting to be called to deal with sin seriously as he assesses our lives honestly! May we glorify his name for all that he has done for us and desires to do through us as he increases our faith in him! Amen.
