In Matthew 17, a man pleads with Jesus to heal his epileptic son after the disciples failed. Jesus questions their faith and then heals the boy. When the disciples ask why they were unsuccessful, Jesus explains in V20 (ESV) “It is because of your little faith” using the mustard seed, the smallest of seeds, to illustrate the faith they needed. It might seem contradictory since Jesus rebukes their small faith yet uses the tiny mustard seed as an example of what kind of faith was needed. We might expect Him to say, they need “faith as big as a mountain” but instead, He says, “…if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could move a mountain.”
This teaches us something vitally important about the mustard seed…
Within this tiny seed is everything needed to grow into something much greater. Faith, even as small as a mustard seed, contains all the elements to grow into something so powerful it can move mountains and uproot trees, making the impossible possible.
Faith in “The Christ” has the ability to grow into something capable of great things. However, if it remains inactive and we neglect what is necessary for its growth, we may find ourselves, like the disciples in Matthew 17, unable to accomplish the work we are called to do. The issue has never been with God’s power but rather the disciples’ lack of faith in that power.
When it comes to Kingdom Growth, why do conversions to the Gospel of Christ seem less common? Is it because no one will listen? Is it because the world has become too wicked to reach? While it is true that not everyone will listen and that wickedness is significant, these are not new challenges. One could argue that the lack of conversions stems from the little faith of Christian disciples. The Gospel remains “the power of God unto Salvation,” and that power has not diminished. The ability to reach the “lost” is just as strong as ever.
As Children of God, we possess a powerful seed—the Word of God. However, just having the seed is not enough. The seed holds tremendous potential, but for it to be realized, it must be planted. The Bible is filled with stories of people whose lives were transformed by the Word, allowing them to accomplish incredible things for God and the cause of Christ. They succeeded because they had the faith of a mustard seed.
Prospering Pathway 
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