More Faith
More Faith
Reading: Esther 1-2; Psalm 150; Luke 17
5 The apostles came up and said to the Master, “Give us more faith.” 6 But the Master said, “You don’t need more faith. There is no ‘more’ or ‘less’ in faith. If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it would do it.” (Luke 17:5-6 MSG)
It takes more strength to move a bigger rock. It takes more horsepower to accelerate away from the traffic light quicker. It takes a more powerful hurricane to wreak more havoc. We’re accustomed to thinking in terms of more strength to do more work, more power to do more damage. So naturally we think “More Faith.”
It seems like it should take more faith to heal cancer than a wart. It seems like it should take more faith to cast out a demon than to find a parking place when you’re late for a meeting.
But the Master said, “You don’t need more faith. There is no ‘more’ or ‘less’ in faith.
If I don’t need “More Faith” and if there really is no “more” or “less” in faith, how does it work?
The Master said, “If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it would do it.”
If I have the smallest amount of faith, I can speak and act. I can say what that little kernel of faith whispers to my heart. Faith whispers in my inner ear, and I say out loud what faith whispers. Is that it? Is the smallest kernel of faith really adequate for the most impossible task if I believe in my heart and speak and act on what faith whispers inside, if I step out when faith nudges me, if I risk what faith prompts?
I believe what The Master said! I am going to speak some faith words and take some faith steps and see what happens. What do you think? Shall we try it? Hang on!
Prayer:
Father, Today it’s a simple prayer. Help me to use the faith you’ve given me. Help me do what you prompt me to do. Help me follow through on my commitment to believe what faith whispers and do what faith prompts. Amen.