Day 16 - The Advance of Faith

“And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith’” (Luke 17:5).

Christ’s answer to this simple request is both convicting and liberating. He explains, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” Elsewhere he points to the mustard see as the smallest in the garden. Plainly stated, it does not take much faith to see big impact. This truth can be convicting if it seems that our own faith has too little impact on the experience of life. At the same time the lesson can liberate us when we realize that we need not possess super Christian faith to do the things Jesus did and more.

At this point it would be valuable to identify what we should expect our faith to produce. With rare exceptions our expectation is that an advancing faith will be characterized by the miraculous. While miracles may be one indicator of a robust faith, there are many others. I am exercising faith when I forgive the faults of others in obedience to God’s Word. I am exercising faith when I share my faith with someone else. I am exercising faith when I give my tithe to the Lord. None of these actions are particularly miraculous, in fact they might seem common place. But they are each nonetheless the direct byproduct of faith in God. For some, the simple act of tithing would be a miracle on par with watching a mulberry tree respond to a spoken command.

That said, there is something lacking in the faith of most believers, and even if there is no obvious lack, there still needs to be an ever advancing quality to our faith, or else it will inevitably become stagnant and useless. To encourage the advance of faith within the heart, Scripture offers a couple pieces of advice. When the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith, He responded by urging expressions of faith. “Speak to the mulberry tree,” He said. A thriving faith will not come through a dormant exercise of faith. To increase in faith we must step out in faith. Beyond that, Scripture reveals, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Regular exposure to the Word of God will bring growth to the smallest seeds of faith in your heart.

Question for consideration: What is one area of life where your faith is being demonstrated by your actions? Where can you step out in faith today?

- Lucas Aufenkamp, ND Men Director