Just a Little Faith
“So the Lord said, If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you.” Luke 17:6 (NKJV)
What we have here is Jesus’ response to His disciples who’d said to Him, “Increase our faith” (verse 5). That is a great request, isn’t it? As usual, Jesus gave an unexpected answer. He chose to emphasize a little thing, the tiny mustard-seed faith that can be so dynamic that it produces something big. The disciples may have been feeling inadequate when they asked Jesus to increase their faith. Often we, too, feel that we aren’t up to the task of living for Christ and doing what we should. In His response, Jesus is saying you can live boldly and do big things if you have even a little faith. The important thing is to have that faith anchored in Him.
The disciples asked for increased faith, and they got it in full measure after the resurrection. The small band set to work under the Holy Spirit’s power, and the world saw the gospel grow rapidly and eventually spread to every corner of the earth.
Like the disciples, Fanny Crosby had her small faith. At age thirty, she went to a church service where the preacher made an altar call. Fanny had gone to the altar before, but this time was different. While the congregation sang “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?” Fanny became so deeply moved, she went forward and committerd her life to Jesus, about whom she later wrote over eight thousand hymns. The big result of her small faith surrender was that she became one of the most prolific hymn-writers in Christian hymnody. Chances are your church’s hymnbook has several of her hymns in it. Fanny’s small step of faith blossomed into a worldwide testament of hymns to the glory of God.
If your request is “Lord, increase my faith,” you will get an answer that brings results far beyond your expectations. Jesus is always ready to grant such a request. So step out with your small faith and allow Christ to make it work like the power embedded in a mustard seed.
Always,
Judith
“Now faith is the substance of things
hoped for,
The evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 12:1
2 Comments
Montez Burks
Judith another reminder for us to keep the faith,we don’t want to hear that small voice saying o ye of little faith. We want that mustard seed faith and when we listen to those hymns from Fanny Crosby it increases our faith (blessed assurance) one of my favorites and it also reminds us that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith 🙏
Judith Nembhard
Hi Montez,
Isn’t it good to know that even a little faith can produce good works?
“Blessed Assurance” is one of my favorites also. Fanny’s faith in Jesus kept her writing songs that praise Him and bless us.
Thanks for your comment. JN