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Hear the devotional here: https://anchor.fm/eradio-valverde/episodes/Super-Size-My-Faith-e1oe8nk
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 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. 7 “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ” (Luke 17:5-10 New International Version)
A blessed and tremendous Tuesday to you, dear Friend! A nice welcome back to all the ConCafe readers, and a couple of new ones, Welcome! My apologies for not being with you yesterday but our trip got us enjoying our time in Colorado and tried as we did, we only could get so far last night, and we stopped where we could because we were so tired. We rented a room in Texas at about 9 something and we zonked out right away. And as a brilliant move, genius here, forgot my computer charger back in the cabin! So, I'm typing fast before this current charge expires! Our dear friend, the owner of the cabin is headed there on Saturday and is mailing my charger to me! Nellie and I thank all of you for your prayers for our safety and vacation. We had a blast! As we pray today, let me ask you please pray for our pastor, The Rev. Dr. Matt Pennington, as he travels for his first annual post surgery checkup. May God bring him a great report and a hopeful outlook for the future! Pray for one another. Pray for the needs of those who have asked prayers of us. Pray for the needs of the world. Please pray for those who are reading or hearing this devotional that God may bless them in special ways.
Our drive to and from Colorado allowed Nellie and I to have good discussions about many factors, including today's discussion about church folks and church stories from our years of ministry. I shared how in one church, one of the associate pastors loved to be first in line at every church supper and function. And this was pointed out to me by another associate who thought it was both hilarious and a bit inappropriate. I laughed and reminded us that he was single and had to cook his own meals, so being first in line assured him a better selection of everything that church members brought to the covered dishes and pot lucks. As Jesus is sharing today's message we find the apostles asking Jesus to "super-size our faith!" What a request. At this point in their ministry, the 12 are realzing and so are asking, for their faith to be increased. In the previous chapter, Jesus spoke of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the one where they both die, and the rich man ends up in the other place, and Lazarus in Heaven. The pain and agony of the separation between the rich man and the very poor man, and this 17th chapter begins with Jesus speaking of stumbling in faith, sin, and the consequences of sin; and so the request of the 12 makes sense; "Lord, make our faith stronger, so that we can survive all that we have seen coming and that You have shared, Lord." Jesus replies, "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. Jesus is addressing the size of faith needed. Jesus knows that the smallest of faith, when put into action, though prayering, believing, and sharing, is what helps us get the problems facing us in proper perspective. A faith the size of the smallest seed, can do an unbelievable and incredible thing of having a rooted plant uprooted, and moved to a location such as the sea, and planted there. And then Jesus shifts the question of faith and we see that Jesus knows that faith requires action on our part; the plowing servant, or the watchful shepherd, has chores to do and so do them. Jesus asks, Will these be recognized and rewarded for doing what they were assigned, or hired, to do? No, they will be required to continue with the work given to them; such as preparing supper, getting themselves ready and waiting on Jesus, then they have their meal; Jesus stresses the reality of faith is our doing what God has asked of us, and we humbly acknowledging to God that we have tried to do what our faith asked of us.
Faith is doing our duty, and that because faith allowed us to do the work associated with that assignment. A faithful pastor seeks to grow the kingdom of God by bringing in those whom God has allowed them to find, and to disciple them into becoming the type of servant leaders that will soon join in that same work of trying to grow God's kingdom. This for the love of God and the life that God promises to us, not for the recognition or fame that may come from being faithul. We are faithful when we do what was expected of us because we loved God Who called us into working for the common good.
The old story has been shared of a retiring missionary who returned home on the same ship as some famous person, and as the ship pulled into New York harbor there was a roaring crowd of shouting fans welcoming the notable person and the old missionary at first believed that perhaps the crowd had gathered for him, and then chided himself for thinking such things, and it was then he heard the same voice that had called him into ministry, "My son, you are not home yet; your welcome there will be fantastic!" The applause here and the cheers here, fade and evaporate; the thanksgiving there in glory will never fade nor evaporate. And, after all, we do it for the love of God and our fellow humans, not applause or recognition. Lord, super-size our faith to do super things for You!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, for Your call upon our lives we are thankful and humbled. We seek to serve only You and Your purpose. Help us to do what You have asked of us, and let us be successful out of the love You have for us and for our lost brothers and sisters. Indeed, super-size our faith in ways that bless and glorify You; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Do super-sized feats of faith for the love of God to those who are in need around you!
Receive my love and blessings of peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
