Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series. At present, I'm only posting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Today, from Luke 17:5-6, we consider how tiny faith has massive power, but we must put the faith that we currently have into practice in order to see victories and for our faith to grow.
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‘The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.’ (Luke 17:5-6)
1. Use the faith that you have
In response to their request for increased faith, Jesus seems to correct them by saying, in effect, ‘Use the small faith that you have rather than waiting for more of it!’ If we wait until we have no fears of doubts we will be waiting forever, and miss the principle that faith grows by acting upon the small faith that that one does have! Like a literal mustard seed, mustard-seed-faith grows by planting it through acts of faith.
This account of Gideon is very informative in regard to using the faith that we have:
‘“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”’ (Judges 6:13-14)
Gideon has doubts. He and God’s people are in a place of defeat and hopelessness. His faith is shaken and he even accuses the Lord of abandoning them! In response God simply tells him to, ‘“Go in the strength you have…Am I not sending you?”’
2. How do you need to plant your faith?
Gideon’s faith and the disciples’ faith grew through applying it in the trials of life. How is God wanting to grow your faith at present? In many parts of the world where they experience tornados, many homes have protective basements that people flee into for protection; likewise, what storms are you confronted with and are you taking refuge in faith? War, sickness, loss, relational conflict, lack, poor government, failure… are all reasons to run to God and apply faith. We don’t have to wait, today is the day to ‘“Go in the strength you have…Am I not sending you?”’ How do you need to plant your ‘mustard seed’ faith at present?
Let’s pray together as we finish
“Father, please help me to grow the ‘mustard seed’ of faith that I have. I know it’s your will to make me like Christ, the ultimate man of faith and I know that I can only grow in faith through fiery trials. May I trust and honour you in the way that I face the trials of life. Amen”
Our next devotional is on Friday (29th) when continuing in Luke 17:5-6, we reflect on how powerful prayer is that which is inspired by true faith - which is the gift of God.
Community Group Notes
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
On Sunday our message from Luke 17:5-6, was entitled, ‘Jesus wants to teach us about faith’. In summary, Disciples of Jesus need to learn about what faith is and how to use it, particularly in the realm of prayer.
Please read Luke Luke 17:5-6 and discuss:
Did God speak to you about any from Sunday’s message that would encourage others?
Why, in the context of the passage, do the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith?
What is faith?
How does faith grow?
In what things would you like to see breakthrough in at the moment? and let’s now pray for these things.
SIV - How will faith, even tiny faith, affect our involvement in seeking to bring people to Jesus?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus; alternatively, pray for the ‘people of peace’ that you regularly meet with.
Let’s pray together: Pray for one another out of our study together and for anything else for which people would like prayer.
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