PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 17:3-6
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed…” (Luke 17:6)
Jesus talks about forgiving a loved one that keeps on hurting you.
The disciples don’t have the will or strength to do this.
In their view, it takes bigger or more faith to forgive like this.
But according to Jesus, faith does not need to be bigger or more.
My sense of this is that it does not depend on us to do right or good.
Faith is placed in something or someone else, in this case Jesus.
Jesus knows that if we take a tiny step, he will step in too.
He provides what is missing in our faith, he provides strength and help.
When God expects the impossible of us, God will help us if we try.
No doubt we will falter, no doubt our first attempts will be weak.
But every time we move our tiny faith muscles, the Spirit strengthens them.
With divine help, we will begin to see the impossible become possible.
Our part is not super faith, but just enough to take that first step.
Jesus will take us where we could never have gone ourselves!
PRAYER
Lord, the life you call me to is bigger than me, but not bigger than you. Help my to trust you, not myself, as I take those little steps.
Don’t let our human limitations hold you back! Through God all things are possible, even impossible forgiveness. Lord help us change our ways instead of waiting for change.
It takes faith to be strong – to endure, to be able to forgive – even when someone repeatedly lets you down. God has a lot of faith in me – he doesn’t give up on me! Lord help not give up even when I go back to previous temptations! Help me take that step in faith to turn away from things that I know are harmful to me and turn me instead to you! HS help grow my faith and trust in you!
Being a stepping stone and not a stumbling block needs Christ Jesus. To forgive that many times needs His leading and guiding for me to be a peacemaker. Thank You Lord for Your Spirit’s leading and guiding and empowering as I follow You in the Way.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.