This is from 'One Year with Jesus' from Quick Verse programSeptember 11

Jesus tells about forgiveness and faith

Luke 17:5-10

(Harmony 164)

One day the apostles said to the Lord, “We need more faith; tell us how to get it.”

“If your faith were only the size of a mustard seed,” Jesus answered, “it would be large enough to uproot that mulberry tree over there and send it hurtling into the sea! Your command would bring immediate results! When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, he doesn’t just sit down and eat, but first prepares his master’s meal and serves him his supper before he eats his own. And he is not even thanked, for he is merely doing what he is supposed to do. Just so, if you merely obey me, you should not consider yourselves worthy of praise. For you have simply done your duty!”

If we have obeyed God, we have only done our duty and should regard it as a privilege. Obedience is not something extra we do; it is our duty. However, Jesus is not rendering our service as meaningless or useless, nor is he doing away with rewards. He is attacking unwarranted self-esteem and spiritual pride.

Seed Faith

The disciples’ request was genuine; they wanted the faith necessary for such radical forgiveness. But Jesus didn’t directly answer their question because the amount of faith is not as important as its genuineness. Faith is total dependence on God and a willingness to do his will. Faith is not something we use to put on a show for others; it is complete and humble obedience to God’s will, readiness to do whatever he calls us to do. A mustard seed is small, but it is alive and growing. Like a tiny seed, a small amount of genuine faith in God will take root and grow. Almost invisible at first, it will begin to spread, first under the ground and then visibly. Although each change will be gradual and imperceptible, soon this faith will have produced major results that will uproot and destroy competing loyalties. We don’t need more faith; a tiny seed of faith is enough, if it is alive and growing. The amount of faith isn’t as important as the right kind of faith—faith in our all-powerful God. Ask God to increase your faith and to give you the strength to act on the faith you have.