And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. Luke 17:5
Did you notice who has made this interesting request in our text? In most cases throughout the Gospels, the followers of Jesus Christ are called disciples. But in our text today, they are called apostles. These are the men who will be the leaders and pioneers in spreading the Gospel and in establishing Assemblies as Christianity is launched during the years described in the book called the Acts of the Apostles. These are the men who spent years following and listening and watching the Lord Jesus, absorbing His teachings and His wisdom. If these great men felt the need to have their faith increased, how much more should insignificant saints like you and me?
The apostles were concerned about their faith. So should we. What could possibly be more important than our faith? Ephesians 2:8 reminds us that faith is the vehicle by which we receive salvation. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Regardless of whatever else we have or lack, if we have faith, we have a foundation. Without faith, we have no shield to protect us from the fiery darts of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16). Without faith, we have no reason to live, because the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38). The New Testament identifies three precious things: the precious blood of Christ, the exceeding great and precious promises, and like precious faith. If the Scriptures identify faith as precious, so should we.
As children, we used to play with wagon wheels, standing them up and setting them in motion across the barnyard. As long as those wheels were moving, they remained upright. But as soon as they came to a stop, they fell over. Faith is like that, it must be kept in motion if it is to be of any effect in our lives. The apostles did not ask for their faith to be maintained, but to be increased. They knew that the faith that got them through yesterday will not do to get them through today. As faith increases, so does our grasp of the Words of God; our knowledge increases. As faith increases, so does our ability to be a faithful testimony for our Lord. As faith increases, our grasp of the will of God and His purposes grows and deepens.
Knowing the value of their faith and the need for it to increase, the apostles knew Whom to ask. Addressing Him as Lord, they petitioned the Son of God to perform the increase. They did not make a resolution to increase their faith themselves; they placed the task in the hands of the One Who they could trust to perform it. By being in His presence, they had learned that it was His desire that their faith increase. By examining themselves, they understood they were incapable of increasing it without divine aid. Do we understand that?
Our text is actually a prayer, a simple but powerful prayer. It is also a necessary prayer, if we are to do and be what our Lord expects of us. -Jim MacIntosh