Devotional - October 1, 2025
Scripture: Luke 17: 5-6 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He (Jesus) 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.
The apostles implore Jesus to give them more faith. We too do this when we are excited about growing spiritually or are in dire straits. Jesus' response here is often misunderstood and may disappoint the reader at first. Jesus is not necessarily encouraging the disciples with this response. When he says, if you have faith, hear it more as, if only you had as much faith. He is questioning if their faith even measures up to the size of a mustard seed. If it did, it could uproot a mulberry tree which was known for it's strong, deep roots. They look to Jesus to empower them. Meaning, they want Jesus to transfer power from Himself to them. Jesus turns their attention to the mustard seed who is empowered by it's Creator from within. What is already inside the mulberry tree is what breaks forth and puts down roots and grows. Jesus is saying, you believe, using what you have inside of you. Don't ask Me to do it for you. The word faith in this context is a noun. It is one's faith that leads, or manifests, to being faithful (verb). What you honestly believe about God and the ways of God manifests each day in how you live your life (John 14:16). Jesus knew his faith, his religion, and His lived it. Jesus can't do that for them, they need to do it for themselves (Matthew 14: 16-17). When Jesus says, believe in Me, He is not saying believe in what I can do for You. He is saying, I am the culmination of all that has come before Me (Matthew 17:1-3). Know what that is and live your life in accord with it (John 15:4). By doing so, you can fulfill the will of God in your life (John 14:14). I know we would rather have a shazam! moment when we look to heaven and ask God to just lay it on us. It would make for quite a moment, ...in a comic book. We are called to know God and we can through Jesus Christ. So leave the mulberry trees alone, and prayerfully open your Bibles and seek God with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). You will not be disappointed (Psalm 34:8).
Pray with me.., Holy God we confess that building our knowledge and strength in You seems daunting. We think there will never be enough time. Slow us down, LORD. Quiet our spirits so that we can walk each day with You. Hear our prayers for our loved ones. Bless them we pray in accordance with their needs. And bless our church O God, lead us, so that we will bring glory to You in Jesus' name, Amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Brian
