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Mustard Seeds Matter
by Faith Marsalli, October 3, 2004
Luke 17:1-6

Faith. What exactly is faith? The author of Hebrews writes,
"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

I like the way the Message translates this verse.
"Faith is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living."

What is our foundation? On what or whom do we put our faith?

Many put a great deal of faith in their relationships. Some see their professional life as the foundation of their life. Some put their faith in their bank account and retirement savings. Many find reassurance in insurance, knowing they will be compensated for accidents, injuries, and even death. We have all placed some faith and trust in these things.

We place faith in these things until our spouse leaves, filing for divorce. We place faith in these things until we get sick or lose our job. We place faith in these things until the stock market crashes. We place faith in these things until we realize a life insurance policy cannot take the place of a loved one. We place our faith in these things until the foundation crumbles. It is then we find ourselves crying out to God, just like the disciples, "Give us more faith!"

In this passage, Jesus is talking to his followers, not the skeptical Pharisees, or a distant crowd. He's talking to the ones he has the most intimate relationship with, the ones that he had spent the most time with on this earth. And Jesus has just challenged them to do some pretty difficult things. He has just told them.

"Don't be a stumbling block to those who are seeking me. Confront your fellow spiritual companion when they are blowing it. And forgive them no matter how many times they blow it."

And guess what? The disciples felt pretty inadequate. I love their response. It is so totally honest. "We can't do what you are asking. We are going to need more faith."

Which begs the question for us to consider together this morning…

How much faith is enough?

How would we know that we have enough, that we have finally arrived in the faith department?
Listen to Jesus' answer. It really is pretty remarkable. He says,

"You don't need more faith, you just need a little bit of faith. Faith, the size of a mustard seed will do!"

What I hear Jesus saying to us is this…

We don't need to read another book or attend another seminar to increase our faith. It's not out there somewhere. The power to do the impossible is within each one of us. Remember our God connection, that One in whom we live and move and have our being? This is our foundation. The potential-the possibility always lies within us. But we must choose to act on the faith that we have, how ever small it is. Jesus says the faith the size of tiny mustard seed, is enough.

But like the disciples, most of us look at the hard things Jesus asks of us and we wonder if it is really possible. We question if we have enough faith to stay the difficult course.

"Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who abuse you. Forgive and keep on forgiving those who hurt you. Turn the other cheek."

Jesus tells us that faith just the size of a mustard seed enables God to work in us in ways we never thought were possible.
I'd like to share a powerful example of what I mean. Jerry Baker, the pastor of Netarts Friends Church, shared this amazing story on the pastor's list- serve awhile back.

Last year Craig Roberts, an ER doctor, a devoted husband and father, and a member of Netarts Friends Church, was driving home the day after Christmas and was struck and killed by a drunk driver.

Several months after this incredible loss and in the midst of the difficult journey of healing, Craig's wife, Chris, wrote this letter to Gregory Thrush, the man who caused the accident that fatal night last December. This letter was read at the District Court plea and sentencing hearing last May.

Dear Mr. Thrush,
I've thought of you a lot since our accident on December 26. I've wondered, of course, at the choices made that led up to that event, but more than that, I've wondered about you, and how you are healing.
I realize you don't even know me, and may never care to, but I wanted you to know a couple of things about me in case I never get another opportunity to tell you.

I believe God's love and care over my family is immense. I also believe God's love and care over you is immense. I trust God, indeed, with my life -as I do with Craig's life.

I have been praying for you, since the day of the accident, to have a quick recovery. I've been asking God to passionately pursue you with His love because he is worth having a relationship with.

We both know that what happened was horrible and life changing. I'm sure we both wish we could change the events of that night, but we can't. Regardless of the outcome of today's hearing, however, we both get to choose how the events of December 26 will impact our lives. You have a choice, and I have a choice. I choose to embrace life over death and blessing over curses. I want my children to grow up making good choices, wise choices. I want them to choose loving and forgiving over hating and begrudging-to impact others in a good way to make a good difference in life. But that is their choice.

Well, thanks for listening to me. I know this must be a terribly hard time for you. I have had these things on my heart to say to you since the accident.

Sincerely,
Chris Roberts

After her letter was read. The judge asked Mr.Thrush if he wished to speak. To Chris' surprise he turned to her and her children and said, "I'm sorry. I am so sorry."

Then he said quietly, through a tight throat. "Will you forgive me?"

Chris said, "Yes, I will. I forgive you."

Chris' faith enabled her to do the impossible. Just a mustard seed of faith sprouted into forgiveness to a man that got behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated and caused the death of her husband.

Through this terrible ordeal Chris was able to remember the foundation of her life. I'm sure at times she felt that she didn't have enough faith to face this loss or the power to forgive Gregory Thrush. In her grieving she might have even cried out like the disciples and asked for more faith. But what she had was enough.

She recounts, "that it was way back in her childhood that she put her life into God's hands. It was at that time, as she puts it, that she also handed him the 'right' to hatred. The decision not to hate Gregory Thrush was decided on long ago. It was laid down then."

Chris' foundation could not be shaken, even in these tragic circumstances.

"Faith is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living."

Faith the size of mustard seed.

So what about you? What is the foundation of your life?

You may be thinking, "Chris Roberts had more faith than I could ever have in that situation."

No, Chris Roberts is just like you and me. She too has doubted the nearness of God in the dark and confusing and challenging places of life. She would be the first to tell you that.

I like what one writer says about faith. "Our faith has too often become a set of easy answers and cardboard explanations instead of a window into unfathomable mystery and a pathway into an awesome adventure."

Do you believe the faith that you have right now is enough to face whatever is in front of you today? Jesus seemed to think so. Do we believe that our tiny mustard seed of faith is enough to accomplish the impossible things Jesus has called us to do and be in the world?