Luke 17:5-6 English Standard Version

Increase Our Faith

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

There is a class of believers that think that they have the power to command. They want to make the mulberry tree obey them. That is not testing of our faith. Listen carefully to the next section of scripture.

Luke 17:10

So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

The Lord commands and we obey. He has the power and our obedience of faith exercises the will of God. Testing of our faith is directly connected to hearing His commands and obeying as good servants.

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The testing of our faith leads us to a better understanding of God’s will. It increases in understanding from good, to acceptable to perfect, where we gain confidence that we are hearing God more clearly as we renew our minds.

Paul’s warning in Romans 12 begins with those who have already placed their faith in Christ and that their minds are in the world and the world is constantly trying to convince believers to see things their way. The only way to combat those influences is to renew our minds by exposing our minds to the truth, the Word of God.

At the time of Paul’s writing to the Romans there was no television, internet, cell phones, texting and apps exposing our minds to every kind of assault on our beliefs. That indicates to me that it is more important than ever to renew our minds daily.

2 Corinthians 11:28

And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

If Paul was anxious then, what makes us think we can escape those same pressures? We need His Word more than ever.

Philippians 3

Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— …

This is the search result in my bible app for the word priorities. The word priority does not appear but the sentiment does.

“To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.” What I sought was a safe place to speak about priorities without putting a burden on anyone for the decisions they have had to make based on circumstances. Health can be a huge factor in making decisions. We often have to make that as our first priority. Then there are financial concerns. In these uncertain times financial concerns can influence our priorities.

We who believe in Jesus Christ want to do the right thing. That is where the subject matter is identified in this section of Philippians. Right decisions based on faith cannot be made without involving God.

Matthew 26:39

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Knowing what we should do according to the will of God leaves us with the problem of placing His priority before our own. In the Garden Jesus knew the will of the Father and yet He asked that vital question, “I am not sure”. 

Serious problems must take into account a level of trust we might not find in ourselves. Doubt is a human condition and if we still have doubts at the moment when we need to make important decisions, who do we turn to for answers?

There will always be a reluctance to ask God about every detail of life where we have to make decisions. The question we should not ask ourselves in those moments; “is He the Lord of my life or not?”

Matthew 13:32

It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

We planted our faith in Christ to find a place to make a home and find rest. Let it grow.