Riverton Christian Church

We all need to be stretched and grown in our spiritual lives.  But to ask this of God, some would think is asking for trouble! But if we are not stretched, we can't grow in Christ and in favor with God; or, dare I say, with ourselves. But be careful what you pray for. I used to ask God for patience, but stopped because every time I did he put people in my daily path that constantly tried my patience!

In our text, Jesus taught three very small yet pithy points of stretching. The first has to do with forgiving others when they sin against us.  We must never cause someone to sin. Likewise, if someone sins against us and repents, no matter how often, we are obliged to extend that forgiveness.

But that's hard to do, isn't it?  After they've done the same thing over and over again and keep coming back in repentance, asking for forgiveness, you begin to think this will be never ending and why should we forgive that person?  God's love is unconditional and it is unlimited, isn't it? Ours must be no less.

The apostles asked Jesus, "Increase our faith!" That's a little like praying for patience, boys! Jesus talks about faith in terms of size (great faith as opposed to faith like a mustard seed).  Personally, I believe I have faith, but actually I have no desire to tell a mulberry tree what to do with itself! "Be uprooted and planted in the sea." To me the obedience of the mulberry tree to my command would be creepy! But the point is not so much about size of our faith as it is the existence of our faith.  My faith allows me to be comfortable relying upon the Lord for some pretty awesome things.  I don't have to feel a certain way, or "access my faith" from somewhere; I know God.  I also know that he promises to take care of the things we're not supposed to fuss about.  There's enough in life to be concerned about.  Why try to do God's job for him?  That seems a little silly, doesn't it? I love God.  I trust God. I don't have to worry about the "size" of my faith -- I know.  That's all that's necessary. 

I especially appreciate Jesus' teaching regarding duty.  It really complements the other two sections in this passage.  He says, "...when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" Jesus tells us to forgive when it is asked for.  When we do, we've done our duty.  When we need a burst of faith, we need only tell the mulberry tree to go take a bath in the sea -- we've done our duty.  Any time we've done what we are told to do in the Scriptures, or anywhere else, our response must be, "We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty." Think about it...