Living in the Spirit

October 1, 2022

Scripture Reading: Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you.

‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? Would you not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”’

This is a dense scripture. One almost must be in the mind of the author to understand the message fully. The Interpreter’s Bible questions its grammar. I guess that is on the translator, but the original language was probably a challenge too.

The point is not that they need more faith; rather, they need to understand that faith enables God to work in a person’s life in ways that defy ordinary human experience. The saying is not about being able to do miraculous works or spectacular tricks. On the contrary, Jesus assures the disciples that with even a little faith they can live by his teaching on discipleship*.

I am not sure what that means either, but it reminded me of a conversation in a Bible study recently when we were discussing the state of our world right now. I noted that there seemed to be a need among people that to be of worth they must be better than another person or group of people. That sounds contradictory to the understanding that all people were made in the image of God and that it would be impossible to be better than anyone else. A thoughtful participant said, that even if we are made in the image of God, we must choose to follow God. Until we accept God’s grace, we cannot fulfill our discipleship leaving us wandering around trying to find love in all the wrong places to quote an old song**.  Serving God is a joy, not slave labor. I fall back on the scripture Matthew 11:28-30, ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Prayer: Lord, when we grow frustrated in our discipleship, bless us with the joy of being a conduit of your love. Amen.

*The New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume IX Luke John page 322

** Lookin’ for Love by Wanda Mallette, Bob Morrison, and Patti Ryan

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.