L U K E  17  v 5—10

The Gospel for this coming Sunday, is from the seventeenth Chapter of Luke’s Gospel between verses five and ten.

The Apostles said to Jesus, increase our faith. Perhaps the hearts of the Apostles had failed within, when they heard one after another saying  from Jesus; who can hear such doctrines?  The request they made was important.

Jesus answered saying, if you had faith like a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it would obey you.

In Verses 7-10 , Jesus is not encouraging anyone to be inconsiderate or rude. Rather it is a vivid  example to illustrate the point of being unworthy servants like the tax collector,  and not like a Pharisee.  Christians are expected to know God owes them nothing, and they owe Him everything, including their own lives;

 

Faith is the way to salvation. He that cometh unto God must believe He is, and that He is one who rewards those who diligently seek Him,  (Hebrews 11)

It is by the hand by which the soul lays hold on Jesus, and unites with Him and is saved. It is the secret of Christian support and comfort, and spiritual prosperity.

According to our faith, shall peace, hope, strength, courage, decision, and victory over the world .  When the Apostles asked about faith, they asked wisely and well.

 

Faith is a grace which has degrees. It does not come to  full strength and perfection as soon as it is planted in the heart by the Holy Spirit. There is a little faith and a big faith.  There is a weak faith and a strong faith, both are spoken of in the Bible. Both seen in  the experience of God’s people.  The more faith a Christian has, the more happy, holy and useful he/she will be.  To promote  the growth and progress of faith, should be  the daily prayer and endeavor of all who love life.

Have we any faith at all?  This is the first question which the subject should raise in our hearts.  Saving faith is not repetition  of the Creed.  Thousands are saying these words, who know little or  nothing of real believing.  The words of St Paul are solemn, ‘all men have faith’.  True faith is not natural man.  It comes down from heaven. It is the gift of God.  If we have faith,  let us pray for more of it.  It is a bad sign of spiritual state when we are satisfied to live old stock and does not hunger and thirst for growth of grace.

Let us notice in these verses what a heavy blow our Lord gives to self-righteousness He says to His Apostles, when ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you, say we are unprofitable servants; we have done hat which is our duty to do.

We are all naturally proud and self-righteous.  We think more highly of ourselves than we have right to do. People can see it in other people, few will allow it in themselves, He/she that desires to be saved must confess, there is no worthiness of their own,  What is the true cause of self-righteousness?  How is it that a poor, weak, erring person, we can be deserving anything from God’s hands?

Once the light of grace shines into our heart, self-righteousness is over.  The roots of pride may remain, and often put forth bitter roots.  But the power of pride is broken when the Spirit comes into the heart, and shows the person themselves and God.  The true Christian will never trust own goodness.  As Paul stated, I am the chief of sinners; God forbid that I should glory and save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ

 

Praise God for His Holy Gospel.