Faith like Mustard Seed!

“The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”. He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” Luke 17:5-6

Jesus used the analogy of faith like a mustard seed in three places in the Bible. Each instance of the mustard-seed analogy builds on the idea that faith’s effectiveness doesn’t lie in its size but in its genuine reliance on God, active obedience, and unwavering trust. Let’s see how:

In our text, the disciples feel that forgiving someone multiple times in a day is a daunting task, so they ask Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus’ response—that faith as small as a mustard seed is enough—emphasises that it’s not the amount of faith that matters but the willingness to act on it. Even the smallest measure of faith, if it’s genuine, can empower us to do things that seem beyond our strength. So, faith isn’t about waiting until we feel strong or certain. It’s about using the faith we already have to take steps of obedience, especially in difficult tasks like forgiveness. Even small faith becomes effective when we put it into action.

On the second occasion in Matthew 17:20, the disciples are unable to cast out a demon from a boy, and Jesus attributes this to their “little faith,” explaining that faith as small as a mustard seed would have been enough. Jesus taught that true faith is not about quantity but about its quality—faith that relies on God’s authority and power. Small but sincere faith, rooted in God rather than our own abilities, can overcome challenges that appear insurmountable. So, when we face situations that are beyond our control, true faith relies not on our strength but on God’s. Even a small amount of faith, if it trusts fully in God’s power, can confront and overcome spiritual challenges.

After Jesus curses the fig tree and it withers, in Matthew 21:21; Mark 11:22-24, the disciples express amazement, and Jesus tells them that with faith and no doubt, they could move mountains. In this instance, Jesus highlighted the importance of undivided faith, a trust that doesn’t waver or doubt. Such faith, even if as small as a mustard seed, can achieve what is humanly impossible because it is fully aligned with God’s will and power. Mountain-moving faith is about confidence in God, free from doubt. It challenges us to pray with assurance and unwavering trust, knowing that God can do the impossible. When faith is exercised without doubt, it taps into God’s supernatural power to overcome obstacles.

Let’s summarise the Practical Lessons from the analogy:

1. Act on the Faith you have: Don’t wait for perfect faith; use what you have, especially in areas like forgiveness or obedience.
2. Trust God’s Power, Not your own: True faith is not self-reliant but rooted in God’s authority and strength.
3. Exercise Faith without Doubt: Undivided, doubt-free faith empowers us to pray boldly, trusting God to do the impossible.

Kay Alli