Increase Our Faith

Lk. 17:5-6

"The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 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."

The disciples wanted greater faith, but Jesus said that even with a very small faith great things could be accomplished. As Jesus was teaching about the purpose of faith, perhaps He was exposing the motives of the disciples. Was the purpose of faith just to do amazing, supernatural things? Was Jesus saying that it was not the amount of faith but the presence of faith in the life that mattered?
 
In Mt. 6:30 Jesus explained that since God clothed the grass of the field which lived only for a short time, He would surely clothe His people. In this instance faith was related to trust. Could believers trust God for daily necessities so that their lives were not full of anxiety. Could they rest in His provision? This faith had nothing to do with supernatural, mighty deeds, but instead with the daily grind, for the necessities that every person must have.
 
In Jas. 1:6 it speaks of faith without doubt. The prayer of faith must be doubt-free for the double-minded man will receive nothing from the Lord and is unstable in all that he does. Whether it is for necessities or for miracles, faith must be pure, without doubt. Does a prayer for increased faith really mean a prayer for pure faith, a faith without doubt? Whichever it is, faith comes by hearing the Word of God, by saturation in the living and powerful word of God. When the Word has its rightful place in the heart, then the faith will be pure, strong, and active.
 
Father,
Increase my love for Your word so that my faith will be pure and effective for You.
In Jesus name,
Amen