Mustard seeds

There are moments in life when the call to follow Jesus feels overwhelming - times when we’d perhaps rather bury our heads and pretend not to have heard… I don’t think it was any different for the early followers of Jesus. 

His words to the disciples in the gospel from Luke (17:5-10) this morning are not gentle suggestions—they are radical commands: forgive endlessly, rebuke sin, welcome the stranger, seek the lost, and live with integrity. It perhaps isn’t any wonder that the disciples cry out, “Increase our faith!”

They weren’t asking for a little boost. They were desperate. Jesus had just laid out a vision of discipleship that felt impossible. And maybe you’ve felt that too at times. Maybe you’ve looked at your own life and thought, “I don’t have enough faith to live like that.”

But there’s good news if you have thought that as most of us have at times: 

Jesus doesn’t say, “You need more.” He says, “You already have enough.” If you have faith the size of a mustard seed—tiny, almost invisible—you can move mountains. You can uproot trees. You can change lives. Because it’s not the size of your faith that matters—it’s the power of the One you place your faith in.

Faith is not just a concept we talk about in church—it’s a way of life and a means of life. And it’s often in the darkest moments that faith is tested. Some people crumble under the weight of suffering. Others discover that their faith, though small, is anchored in something eternal. And that anchor holds.

There’s a story from early America: a traveller came to the frozen Mississippi River. Unsure of the ice’s strength, he crawled across on hands and knees. Halfway through, he heard singing—and turned to see another man driving a four-horse load of coal across the same ice, singing with confidence. That’s the kind of faith Jesus calls us to—a faith that walks boldly, not because the path is easy, but because the One who calls us can be trusted.

George Müller once said, “Faith begins where man's power ends.” That’s where the gospel begins too. Jesus didn’t come to make us better people—he came to make us new people. He came to save us. And salvation doesn’t come from having perfect theology or perfect morals. It comes from faith. Faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Faith that says, “I can’t do this on my own—but I believe you can.”

This is the heart of the gospel: Jesus came not just to be a teacher or a prophet, but to be our Redeemer. He came into the world to show us ways of living. He died for our sins, rose from the dead, and now offers eternal life to all who believe. That’s not just good news—it’s the best news of all!

And once we believe, we’re called to act. Paul reminds us that we’ve all been given gifts—different ones, yes, but all necessary for the work of the Kingdom. You don’t need someone else’s faith. You need to use the faith God has already given you.

So step out. Join or even lead that Bible study. Share your story of faith as it really is - near perfect or imperfect, dramatic or really mundane. Invite someone to church. Forgive that person who hurt you. Give generously. Serve joyfully. Speak boldly. Because when you do, you’re not just living by faith—you’re living out the gospel.

Jesus is calling us to trust him. To believe that the Kingdom of God is not some distant dream, but a present reality. And if we have faith—even the smallest amount—his will can be done on earth as it is in heaven.

So don’t wait for more faith. Don’t wait until you feel ready. Trust the One who is ready to use you now. Jesus came to be your Saviour. And he’s calling you to follow him—not with fear, but with faith. Amen