The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. – Luke 17:5-6
Mustard plants start out small, but then grow vigorously, growing tall and wide into shrubs by putting on branches. The seeds are miniscule, but they are powerful because they grow into large plants that spread and take over entire fields. Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a thriving mustard plant:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” – Matthew 13:31-32
When Jesus answered the Apostles’ plea to “increase our faith,” He was challenging them to see the power of even a very small faith–one the size of a mustard seed. For when planted in the “good soil” (Mark 4:8) of a deep life of prayer and openness to God and nourished by the “living water” (John 4:14) of grace that God pours into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5), the faith the size of a mustard seed can become quite fruitful, indeed.
Even if you consider your faith to be the size of a mustard seed, God has the power to do amazing things through you because of His grace working within you (see Ephesians 3:20). Now imagine that your faith is as big as a full-grown mustard seed: a bush the size of a tree that produces other seeds in abundance. Imagine a faith so fruitful that it encourages others to have faith! This is what it means to be a missionary disciple: to have a faith so deep, alive, and fruitful that it produces seeds of faith that spreads to others.
Jesus, increase my faith! Pour your life of grace out upon my heart and make my faith fruitful for you. May I be a blessing to those You have placed into my life by bringing them to encounter You.