March 22, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

How one’s faith works in times of crisis

The disciples came to Jesus asking, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). Have you ever wanted more faith? The problem the disciples were having was being unable to forgive others even when someone would sin against them. Jesus said to forgive always no matter what it takes and as often as it takes (Luke 17:3-4). This led to the question, “Lord, increase our faith.” The culture of Jesus’ day understood the connection between forgiveness and having faith.

So here we are in 2020, needing faith and unable to do what Jesus has been asking of us for many years. Forgiving others takes just as much spiritual power as does performing miracles. The question “How often and to what extent should I forgive?” has direct connection to “How much faith do I need?” To Jesus it was the same—either you do, or you don’t. Remember the story in the Gospels about Jesus saying, ‘Your sins are forgiven you.” The religious leaders did not like Him saying ‘your sins are forgiven’ so Jesus answered, “Which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven or to be healed” (Luke 5: 23)?

So, the disciples asked Jesus for more faith and Jesus answered their question with a story. 5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you. 7“Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? 8“But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? 9“He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? 10“So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”

Why did Jesus talk about a slave working for his master? The story is a story about humility, never seeking glory or honor for what one does, and understanding that one either has faith or does not have faith. It takes little faith, not great faith, for miracles to happen. We are either humble or prideful. We forgive or we do not forgive. We have faith or we do not have faith. All of this is about our position under Christ. We must consider ourselves as servants when we do what God asks us to do. We cannot do anything God wants from a position of self-importance or personal honor on our part. Want to have faith to move mountains? Then begin by saying “I am unworthy and unprofitable—a nobody. I do what God asks of me and He alone deserves all the glory and honor!”

You and I cannot give the illusion of humility, rather our humility comes from our heart and spirit. We must be a nobody—no one of importance. Christ never said He was good or tried to make Himself of notoriety. He stated that ‘no one is good but God’. Are we trying to be good enough to perform miracles? Are we trying to lift up our self-esteem by having enough faith to heal someone? When we exercise the littlest amount of faith—it is enough to change, heal, or redeem whatever we are seeking. If we would indeed humble ourselves, there is nothing our faith could not accomplish. We are to honor Christ alone and to never accept any honor the world or Satan says we ought to have. It is only in humility that we forgive, have faith without measure, and please our Father.

This is how Jesus began and finished His ministry. It was about pleasing the Father not about ‘look what I have done’. Jesus would have us to do the same! Let’s have this kind of faith in times of crisis.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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