17th December – Luke 17: “Increase Our Faith”
Hey friends, welcome to December 17th. As Christmas draws near—the celebration of the greatest act of forgiveness the world has ever known—Luke 17 comes with a simple, desperate plea from the disciples: “Increase our faith!” (v. 5). Jesus answers with teachings that show faith isn’t about size, but about direction—toward God, not ourselves.
- Faith When Offended – Protect the Little Ones Jesus warns, “It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones” (vv. 1-2). “Little ones” means not just children, but every vulnerable believer. As we prepare for Christmas, let’s guard the innocence and faith of those around us—especially the young. Take heed to yourselves: don’t cause stumbling. Faith means living in a way that draws others closer to Jesus, not pushes them away.
- Faith to Offer Forgiveness – “Forgive Him” “If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him” (vv. 3-4). Peter thought seven times was generous, but Jesus later shows (in Matthew 18) it’s seventy times seven. The kingdom is built on forgiveness—because we’ve been forgiven an unpayable debt.
Corrie ten Boom, who survived a Nazi concentration camp where her sister Betsie died, once faced a former guard after the war. He approached her after she spoke on forgiveness: “How good it is to know that all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!” He extended his hand. Corrie froze—she couldn’t forgive on her own. She prayed silently, “Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness.” As she took his hand, God’s love flooded through her, and she said, “I forgive you, brother, with all my heart.” Faith believes God’s grace is big enough to cover every offense against us, just as it covered every offense we committed against Him. This Christmas, let forgiveness flow freely—because at the manger, Forgiveness Himself arrived.
- Faith in God, Not Ourselves – “As a Grain of Mustard Seed” The apostles cry, “Increase our faith!” Jesus replies, “If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you” (v. 6). Faith isn’t about quantity—it’s about quality. Even tiny, mustard-seed faith, fixed on God, moves mountains. It comes by hearing the Word (Rom. 10:17). In the new year, let’s not trust our own strength, but His power working through our weakness.
4. Faith’s Obligation to Serve – “It Was Our Duty” Jesus paints a picture: A servant comes in from plowing or tending sheep. Does the master say, “Come and sit down to eat”? No—he says, “Prepare my supper, gird yourself, serve me… afterward you shall eat and drink.” “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do” (vv. 7-10). Faith serves without expecting applause. We don’t earn brownie points with God—everything we do is simply our duty. Spiritual apathy creeps in when we start thinking God owes us. But true faith says, “We are unprofitable servants—we’ve only done what was expected.”
5. Faith to Offer Thanks – “One of Them Turned Back” Ten lepers cry out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He tells them, “Go shew yourselves unto the priests.” As they go, they’re cleansed. One—a Samaritan—turns back, falls at Jesus’ feet, and gives thanks with a loud voice. Jesus asks, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” (vv. 11-19). Only one returned to give glory to God. Faith doesn’t just ask—it thanks. This Christmas, may we be the one who turns back, loud with gratitude for the mercy we’ve received.
6. Faith that is Open to God’s Plan.
When the Pharisees ask when the Kingdom of God should come, Christ makes a distinction between the Kingdom now and in the future. The Kingdom now “cometh not with observation,” but is “within you.” He explains first the Son of Man must suffer many things and “be rejected of this generation.” But then He speaks of a day when the Son of Man will come as lightning out of Heaven in His day, which will be with “observation,” for sure. He says the physical Kingdom of God will be in a different generation to His first coming. We know it has now been many generations since. But we are just that many generations closer to what Christ, in the rest of the chapter, says will indeed happen. Before it happens it will be as in the days of Noah and Lot, with people eating and drinking right up until the day, without any notice of the coming judgement. These are things people will be doing this Christmas, without any thought of future judgement, which will precede the coming Kingdom. As God pulled Lot out of Sodom before judgement on that city, God will pull the church out of the world before that terrible day. As God protected Noah through the judgment of the Flood, God will protect Israel and other Tribulation Saints who will be saved during that terrible day. We must not only be open to God’s way of bringing in the Kingdom, but also looking for it, and having our eyes open for it. Israel will have to watch during that time, and Christ speaks of a day they will have to run. But for many alive at that time, the judgement will sneak up on them. Never think, God will do it my way; He is not a God who will judge me. You will not get away with it if. When Christ comes, judgement will come. When the disciples ask, “Where, Lord?” in the last verse, Christ speaks of the eagles that will gather at the future Battle of Armageddon. He is looking ahead to what the Book of Revelation calls “The Supper of the Great God,” where the birds of the air will gather to clean up after the battle of Armageddon. While believers eat in Heaven, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9), the earth will be preparing for the terrible Supper of the Great God (Revelation 19:15-18). As you go to feasts this time of year, ask yourself the sobering question, which of those two feasts would you rather be at?
The whole chapter circles one plea: “Lord, increase our faith!” Faith that protects the vulnerable. Faith that forgives freely—even when it feels impossible, because God supplies the power. Faith that trusts God’s power. Faith that serves humbly. Faith that thanks loudly.
Friends, as Christmas nears, let’s echo the disciples: “Increase our faith!” He’s still the same Jesus who cleanses, forgives, and empowers—even mustard-seed faith.
See you tomorrow for Luke 18. Grace and peace! 🙏
