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Luke 17:5-10
In the following of Jesus’ teaching on the rich man and Lazarus, followed by His instructions to not lead others astray from the gospel, the apostles (most commonly known as the twelve disciples that were taught directly by Jesus) asked Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus replied that it is not the amount of faith one has, but the quality of that faith. Such faith, Jesus said, could command a mulberry tree to be uprooted and thrown into the sea and it would obey.
Jesus continues His teaching with a story of a servant coming in from working the field and not sitting down to be served his dinner, but serving his master’s dinner first and then the servant would be free to eat. Jesus teaches that a servant does not seek a reward for doing the work in which he was called to do, but that they are satisfied in completing their duty as required of them.
This is a promise of finding the strength of our faith in Christ Jesus.
This is a promise that we have work to do as servants of Jesus in that we do not expect to earn special favor, but because that is what our Father in heaven calls us to do out of our respect and submission to Him.
Jesus uses the example in this passage of having the faith of a mustard seed and yet being able to do amazing things with that amount of faith. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds of all, and Jesus uses this example to show that even the smallest amount of faith is capable of producing great things…if that faith is rooted in Him. That is the key; that our faith is in Jesus.
The Apostle Paul (being an apostle because he was taught directly by Jesus in his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9:1-9) states in Philippians 4:13 that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. This is the attitude that Jesus is teaching in Luke 17:5-10; not that we have the strength to do all things, but that we have the faith in Jesus that gives us the strength to do all things that are in His will for us. This attitude in our faith in Jesus does not have a selfish ambition to receive something for our actions in submission to Him, but contentment that He has chosen us to do something for Him.
The reward is found through a sincere heart and the blessing that comes through humble submission, not expectation. To experience this type of blessing is an outpouring of God’s grace, not because we deserve it but because He loves us and knows the depths of our hearts in sincerity. This is the greatest thing you will ever experience, but you cannot expect to get it; that’s the gift of the blessing through faith in Jesus.
Dear Lord,
Jesus said to the woman at the well in John 4:23-24 that You are Spirit and that true worshipers will worship You in spirit and truth. This takes faith in believing in You and submission to Your will for our lives in humility to the salvation that we receive through Your Son Jesus. Please help us to see that submitting to Your will for our lives requires us to do the things that You have called us to do. Please help us to see that the gift is the result of our humble submission to You with the only expectation being that we are following Your will for our lives. In that, we may receive the greatest gift of all in Your blessings to us and experience true life in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. In Jesus name I pray, amen.