The Monday after the Third Sunday after the Epiphany of our Lord
Posted on January 27, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 17:5-10 (NKJV)
17:5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8 But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”
Devotion
The Apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. This was a good thing to pray for and Jesus would answer their prayer. However, He first wanted to clarify what an increased faith is like. An increased faith is not man’s self-sustaining. It is not self-strengthening. An increased faith continues to receive all of its strength from God. It starts as small as a mustard seed, but through the power of God’s promises it becomes a tall and impressive plant. Faith produces great fruit when it is strengthened by the promises given in God’s Word.
When faith is strong it is never boastful. It never exalts itself and says, “Look at me! Look what I can do because I have faith in God!” People with faith confess that they are unprofitable of themselves. Apart from the working of the Holy Spirit, we can do absolutely nothing. We are small as mustard seeds. It is only through the power of God that the fruits of faith and love are produced in us. Thus we learn that an increased faith is also increased in humility. “When you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities, stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
