Luke 17:1-19
17: And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”
11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Reflection
The disciples ask Jesus for a good thing —more faith (Luke 17:5). But Jesus indicates that it is not the greatness of our faith that matters, but the object of our faith. If we genuinely believe in God’s grace and power then even seemingly impossible things can become realities, despite the smallness of our faith (“like a . . . mustard seed”; v. 6). This is good news for our daily Christian lives. God does not base his blessings on the greatness of our faith, but on the greatness of his own power and faithfulness. We are called to humbly believe in him, not ourselves or our faith. When we trust in Jesus rather than our faith we will taste spiritual victory and calmness in the soul.
Jesus continues to teach us about faith with the healing of the ten lepers. All of them asked for God’s mercy (v. 13) but only one proved to have humble and worshipful faith (v. 16). The same principle applies to our lives. Our worshipful response—or lack thereof—proves whether we have understood God’s mercy and goodness. The first and greatest response to the gospel is worshipful faith that is grateful for grace. When a person trusts in Jesus with this type of humble faith, even the most despised outsider, such as this Samaritan leper, can be saved!
1 Thessalonians 3:1-10
3: Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
Reflection
Paul and his companions have proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Thessalonians, and when the Holy Spirit plants the gospel in the hearts of his people, gospel fruit always abounds. Timothy’s report of the Thessalonians’ faith and love was good news for Paul (1 Thess. 3:6) because it confirmed that his work with them had not been in vain (v. 5). Their steadfast faith in Christ is life-giving encouragement to Paul, who knows that if their faith crumbled under persecution, it would be evidence that they never truly believed the gospel.
Paul expresses his longing to see the Thessalonians face to face and to supply what is lacking in their faith (v. 10). Not that the Thessalonians lack what is necessary for saving faith, but because Paul’s initial ministry among them was so brief (Acts 17), they still have much to learn about Christian life and teaching. Similarly, whenever we study the Word of God or hear it preached, we are seeking to be more fully supplied with what we need to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18). This is Paul’s earnest desire for the Thessalonians, and it is necessary for all who desire to grow in godliness.
Psalm 104:1-2
104: Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 2 covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.
Thankfully, the true power for change is not our faith itself, but the One in whom we trust (Luke 17:5–6). Focus your attention on Jesus and pray that God would increase your faith in him by increasing your confidence in his greatness and his ability to do great things.