"IF YOU HAD FAITH!"

Luke 17:5-6                      (ESV)

"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."

Other than my salvation and my wife, the two sons GOD blessed me with (and now their wives) are the best blessing I can imagine.  The joy brought by them over the years is unexplainable.  In Mark 9:14-29 JESUS casts out an unclean spirit from a son of a man, much like what I imagine my sons are.  The father of that child said in Mark 19:24 "I believe; help my unbelief"!   The father knew JESUS "could" heal his son.  He didn't KNOW if JESUS "would" heal his son.  The pain heard in his plea is understandable for a parent begging for their debilitated child.  

In Luke 17:5-6 JESUS tells HIS disciples "IF YOU HAD FAITH" the like a grain of mustard seed! A grain of mustard seed is minuscule, about 0.03 to 0.04 inches in diameter.  JESUS was telling the disciples that their FAITH could uproot trees and plant the tree into the sea.  All it would take was a seemingly small amount of FAITH that GOD is WHO HE said HE is and they could do the miraculous.  The GOD who literally spoke the worlds into existence is the same GOD JESUS was speaking of.  

The disciples said in Luke 17:5 "Increase our FAITH".  Did they realize what they were asking?  Did they anticipate the persecution and turmoil they were inviting into their lives?  Were they really willing to pay the price to exhibit their FAITH that GOD is GOD and that HE can do what man deems impossible?  In Hebrews 11:6 says "without FAITH, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please GOD"!   Were the disciples asking to be brought into the Spiritual Realm of displaying GOD for WHO HE really is?  Am I bold enough to make such a request in my life?  

JESUS displayed HIS deity wherever HE went.  Some could not see that HE was GOD among men, as their eyes were blinded to truth (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 3:19-20; John 12:39-40; Ephesians 4:17-19).  My prayer is that my FAITH will be evident to those who are NOT blinded and that others may see GOD through my life!  FATHER IN HEAVEN, when I stand before YOUR throne don't let the words "IF YOU HAD FAITH" be used to describe my life!  Even though trials and persecution are likely to follow, grow my FAITH and use me to display what FAITH in YOU can do to and through a person!