Putting Faith To Work

How can anyone have enough faith to follow Jesus all the way? Let’s learn that we already have enough faith to fulfill big dreams. Let’s see what Jesus says in Luke 17:5-10.

Tiny Faith Big Action

Luke 17:5-6 The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” 6 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!

Jesus contrasted a small seed with a large tree. The smallest faith is powerful and can accomplish much. Faith can be used for really big things including living lives of radical self-sacrifice for others. How much bigger is a tree compared to a mustard seed? That’s the power of faith.

Jesus said to talk to the tree and tell it to move. Faith must be put to work because faith without good works is dead (James 2:14-26). Do circumstances keep us from doing good? What circumstances do we need to move out of our way? Faith removes large obstacles.

Faith to Go Beyond

Luke 17:7-10 “When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? 8 No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ 9 And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. 10 In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”

Noah spent decades building a large barge. How could an ancient man have known about the optimal shape without an engineering degree? Abraham was 75 years old and moved his entire family to another country. Sarah was way past childbearing age and believed what God had promised and was faithful.

How much faith does it take to obey Jesus? How much faith is needed to go above and beyond? How much faith does it take to build a church that is a bright light and not another museum to past generations? Is it faith the size of a mustard seed?

The disciples were like us. They had a little faith, and just needed to put it to work. The smallest amount of faith, like what we have, can be used by God to accomplish great things. What are we afraid of? Let’s do it.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Lamentations 1:1-6

Every community faces times of sorrow. Lamentations was written by a survivor of a crumbled nation, as a book of mourning. Let’s be honest about grief. Weeping is good. What do we mourn in our community? Do we deplore the sin all around us? How can lament in our worship?

Lamentations mourns Jerusalem’s plight. It begins as a funeral song, sung by a city who lost her children and her husband. Jerusalem sinned. The people ask for God’s mercy. The book ends without an answer. By weeping with those who are suffering, perhaps we can come to love them more.

Psalm 137

This brutally honest Psalm gives us permission to pray even wrongful thoughts. Jesus corrects such sentiments, teaching us to love our enemies. How can we sing joyful songs in a broken world? Does Christ meet us in our darkest places? Hasn’t He already met us in the darkest place, death?

2 Timothy 1:1-14

This is a farewell letter (2 Timothy 4:6-8) about Paul’s legacy. It encourages Timothy to confront false teachings and preserve the Christian heritage. It sees Christian faith and ministry in community. It is a conservative letter. The faith is to be guarded (see 2 Timothy 1:14) from corruption.

The defeat of death and the promise of blissful immortality are consequences of God’s wonderful grace. Suffering endured as a result of being persecuted for one’s faith has eternal rewards. Paul is about to die a martyr’s death. He teaches us how to live confidently. Paul wants to die well.

Luke 17:5-10 in Rhyme

5 The apostles said to the Lord

“Add to us faith.”

6 Then said the Lord

“If mustard seed size is your faith

You could tell this sycamore tree

‘Be pulled up and set in the sea’

It would listen to you and heed”

7 “When a farmhand comes from the lea

From plowing or tending sheep

Does the boss say, ‘Come eat with me’?

8 When his job is a meal complete

No, he says, ‘Cook me up some meat

Then, serve me while I drink and eat.

Later on, you can take a seat.’