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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!” ’ (Luke 17:5-10)
Sometimes it is easier to order a tree to uproot itself and move somewhere else, than it it to forgive. Jesus had just called the disciples to be people of continual forgiveness, and they ask for more faith. They knew who they were dealing with and living among, and so they know they need more faith just to comply with all that Jesus has asked of them. Jesus again speaks of discipleship and the difficult it is to be just a believer and more so to be a disciple; we can't expect a place of honor when the work we are to do is that of a servant; and work that is expected to be done.
If you want to see servants at work, find a church that truly takes the teachings of Jesus seriously; you will see work beyond its campus, things given away, not sold, lives who will never step foot inside their worship space receiving blessing after blessing, and those doing that are doing it out of love and not thinking, "What's in it for me?" And these are also people who know how to forgive, for they themselves have been forgiven.
What "mulberry tree" in your life needs to be uprooted? It's probably one that enjoys prime real estate in your life and you need it removed and out of sight so that you can get on with living the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: Loving God, help me remove the mulberry tree in my life that is blocking my view of what could be. Help me to be a person of forgiveness and service, obedient to You and Your ways. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
