Lord, Increase My Faith

Read Matthew 17:14-27

      Why could the disciples not cast out the demon?  Surely they had used the same techniques they used with great success earlier (10:1).  It was because of the smallness of their faith, Jesus said (17:20).  How small was it?  Well, if they had mustard-seed-sized faith (about 1-2 millimeters), they could move mountains! 

      There is a sense in which people either have faith in Christ or they do not.  Enough faith to sincerely call upon the name of the Lord is saving faith, make no mistake (Romans 10:13).  But there is another sense in which our faith can be stronger or weaker, great or small, much or little.  The quality and strength of our faith is by far our most important characteristic in the eyes of God, and a tested, growing, and strengthening faith our most precious possession (1 Peter 1:7).