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What does a mustard seed have to do with anything?
In verse 5 of the text, the Apostles ask the Lord, “Increase our faith.” Webster’s definition of faith states the following: Firm belief in something for which there is no logical proof or something that is believed with strong conviction. Martin Luther’s definition of faith reads as follows: “Faith is a living bold trust in God’s grace so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it.” While it is somewhat comforting to read that the apostles who were tutored by Jesus himself asked the more than probable prayer we’ve all prayed at one time. Dear God, please increase my faith! I know this prayer has been on my lips on several occasions. As Webster and Martin Luther both define faith, it is truly believing in something much greater than we are and a trust in something we are willing to risk death for a thousand times. Now that is FAITH!
In verse 6 of the text Jesus replies to the apostles questions, If you have the faith as small as a mustard seed…. I don’t believe the Lord is questioning their faith but more importantly challenging them to truly believe and trust in their faith. An important analogy in the text is the mention of the mustard seed. A mustard seed is approximately 2 mm in diameter (very small). Once planted, mustard seeds roots can grow strong enough to split and/or crack concrete. My take from this scripture is this: Even though like a mustard seed, our faith like a mustard seed starts out small but can grow like the mustard seed into a flourishing and powerful thing.
Hi Wes, thanks for sharing today. I appricate your family and have loved watching the kids grow. I know you know your wife is wonderful but I think so too.
Faith as small as a mustard seed. A little faith goes a long way. Believing that God can do anything small or large is what brings peace to my life. I haven’t had to live through two fires or having my parents die when I was young(big things) but I have trusted little things daily things to God. I have thought about where does faith come from. Is it something I do or God does. The conclution I have reached over the years is faith is both. It is almost like asking which is first the chicken or the egg. God created faith for us to have a relationship with Himself. By faith Abraham believed God. By faith I can believe and walk with God.
Wes thanks for the reminder by way of definition of what faith is. I desire my faith to grow like a mustard seed. I find however that the older I get the less faith I have. I rely too much on past experience and not the newness of God. I find reading the word and hanging out around people much younger than me helps me grow in faith.
Wes, thanks for sharing. I think that our faith is grown both by God and our response to that faith, or in other words, our actions that result from our faith. Getting out into the community and serving or sharing my faith with someone else are some examples of things that I want to do as part of growing my relationship with God. Every time that I do something along these lines, God uses the experiences to teach me something and draw me closer to Him.
By the way, I went to high school in Southaven, and I have several high school buddies who live in Hernando now. Small world!
wes. thanks for this.
unpacking a bit of the mulberry tree thing on Sunday… I actually think there’s a bit of Jesus’ humor here.
when we doin’ breakfast??? next thursday work?
blessings
alan