God’s View on Faith

Scripture Reading: Luke 17:1-19

Key Verse: Luke 17:6

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 thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you!”

I would imagine that most of us have heard of Jesus’s phrase “faith as small as a mustard seed”. Most of us have no clue how small a mustard seed is. A Google search reveals that the mustard seed is usually about 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter. It helped me to know that one nickel is 2 millimeters thick. That may help you see how small a mustard seed it.

I have say this to help us know the impact of what Jesus answered the Disciples when they asked Him: “Show us how to increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). Jesus’s answer, that I printed at the top of this devotion, tells us that it’s not the size but it is the quality of your faith.

In other words, Jesus didn’t give them an answer that indicated that they needed to increase their faith! He said if they had faith the size of the mustard seed then they could do amazing things. Jesus is saying that faith in God’s ability to accomplish what we are asking of Him is the quality of faith that is enough.

Let’s try another approach to this verse. For example, if I said to you: “I have a little faith in your ability to accomplish something”, you would be insulted. That statement is indicating that I really doubt you can do it. If I would say something like: “I have faith that you can do it” and said it with great confidence, that would probably please you.

Let’s apply this to our requests to God. If I can say that I know He can do something, without any doubt, that is a quality faith. However, what I’m seldom sure of is whether it is God’s Will and Purpose, to do what I’m asking of Him. I know He can, but I don’t know if it’s in His Will and I always tell Him that I want His perfect Will working in my life.

For me, my prayers are seldom filled with: “God, I’m asking you to do this, and I know you are going to”. They are filled with: “God, I’m asking you to do this, and if it’s your Will, I know you can!”.

However, if I have a direct promise from the Bible, then I pray with total confidence that God will keep His Word. For example, I can pray with total confidence that God will supply all I need, according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Why? Because that is a promise made to all believers in Philippines 4:19!

Father, thank you for hearing our prayers. Remind me whenever I forget that you love to give good gifts to your children. In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.