The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you! “When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”
Luke 17:5-10

Dear God, in relating this story to us, Luke connects the things Jesus said about “faith the size of a mustard seed” and “being a thankless servant.” I don’t think I’ve ever thought of these two concepts as being linked, and, frankly, I’m struggling with it a little. What does my attitude as your servant have to do with growing my faith?

Wow, just asking the question that way almost answered it in my mind. Maybe part of my lack of faith is rooted in my desire to get something in exchange for my faith. Maybe, as a servant, I still expect too much from you and that puts limits on the amount of faith I am able to have. When I am expecting things to turn out a certain way then I can see how it would limit my ability to believe that you will pull it off the way I want you to. But if I simply believe that you are going to do what you want to do and I will work for your service and not mine then when it comes time for me to do your work I will have all of the power and blessing that you need me to have for the situation.

Father, here I am to simply worship and serve you. I release my expectations of what is in this for me. Show me how to be used by you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen