FAITH AS SEED

And the apostles said unto the Lord, INCREASE OUR FAITH. And the Lord said, If ye had FAITH AS a grain of mustard SEED, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you – Luke 17:5-6

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” That’s the typical attitude of many Christians concerning faith: we want ‘loads’ of faith – FAITH in BULK. The Master’s interesting response must have puzzled the apostles. They wanted BIG FAITH, but He referred to one of the smallest things they knew – the Mustard Seed. Faith as SEED is more significant than the SIZE of Faith! The emphasis was not only on the smallness of the seed but the LIFE of the seed! Faith is a Living Seed!

The Lord’s response portrayed the contrast between huge, but hollow faith and a small, but living seed. The truth is: Faith is never a matter of SIZE. The essence of faith is not in its bulkiness, size or weight. Perhaps the disciples desired to have massive faith for mighty tasks; but that is contrary to the dynamics of faith. Faith is in measures, in proportions. Romans 12:3, 6 speak of “the measure of faith” and “the proportion of faith.” Faith is proportionate to the task at hand. However small it may seem, faith – like the body’s muscles – flexes with consistent exercise and use, to face every challenge and uproot every mountain of opposition.

The Kingdom of God is based on the Seed Principle. Kingdom-faith is therefore SEED-faith. Faith as a seed is planted in the human heart (recreated human spirit) to grow, “first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear” (Mk.4:26-28). What we need is not an increase in the ‘SIZE’ of our faith. What we need is an active, dynamic, exercising, working faith. Active faith needs, attracts and invites challenges. Dynamic faith thrives in the thick of trials. Robust faith blossoms and grows in the world’s wildest weathers. Kingdom-faith does not avoid the battles of life. It faces them with an assurance and conviction of Victory! Beloved, the seed of faith is already in you; will you let it blossom, flourish and grow?