Christian Living

---

Luke 17:5-7 (King James Version)
5And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6And 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.
7But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

The parable of the mustard seed is used widely to explain that we do not need a great amount of faith to "move mountains." And while this is an excellent point to draw from the scripture, we can get so consumed with the idea of have our "little bit of faith" that we become content with merely having it rather than using it. Jesus referred to the mustard seed for more reasons than its size. When the characteristics of a mustard seed plant and faith are compared, the wisdom of the Lord is magnified even more. This seed like our faith has various uses. Once we tap into the power of our "seed of faith", there is nothing that we cannot do in Christ. The mustard seed being small in size yields a large plant that is sometimes referred to as a tree allowing fowls to perch on the branches and it can sometimes grow large enough to produce a good amount of shade. This plant is pollinated by bees and birds causing more of it to spring up everywhere. The plant is used as fodder for sheep and it has wonderful medicinal qualities. It is disease resistant and has been used in a paste as a germicide by doctors. And most of all, the plant can grow during droughts as well as in extreme humidity.


Our faith is so designed that is can have the same effects as the mustard seed. Without faith we won't grow in the Spirit. Just as the plant is used as fodder for sheep, so is faith used to feed the Lord's sheep. The plant has medicinal qualities; through faith we receive healing. The plant can be used as a germicide, by faith we are protected. The plant is disease resistant and through faith we are fortified and sustained. Just as the bees and fowl spread the mustard seed plant through pollination, we must spread our faith by willingly and boldly proclaiming the Gospel. Like the mustard plant when it has grown great in size supports the fowl and provides shade, our faith when it has grown can support others and cover them in prayer as they go through. And whatever the condition or circumstance, faith causes us to grow. But although we have this tiny seed, this measure of faith which is given to every man, we can only reap its benefits when it is sown. How much must we forfeit because we fail to simply plant and cultivate a tiny little seed?

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE