Sunday October 5, 2025

Open the Door

Luke 17:5–10 begins with a request many of us have prayed: “Increase our faith.” The disciples want more courage to live what Jesus has just taught about forgiveness and faithful service.

Jesus replies with two images that redefine faith itself. The first is a mustard seed; tiny, yet alive. In the right hands, even that small trust can move what seems rooted and immovable. The second image is a servant returning from the field, continuing his work quietly and faithfully. Together they reveal that faith is not a matter of scale or performance. It is a living trust expressed in ordinary obedience.

This message explores what choosing faith looks like when the path is uncertain. Faith does not wait for perfect clarity. It moves in response to a trustworthy Savior. John Wesley’s language for grace helps us see how God meets us in that movement. Prevenient grace awakens our desire for God. Justifying grace assures us that we are accepted in Christ. Sanctifying grace keeps shaping us into holy love. Each step of faith becomes another place where grace takes root.

Jesus’ answer also protects us from performance. Faith is not measured by feeling. It is practiced through daily trust: forgiving when it feels costly, serving when no one notices, praying when the heart feels dry, showing kindness when resentment would be easier. These hidden acts become the soil where faith matures.

The invitation is deeply personal. Name one place where your grip is tight. Bring it to prayer and act with the trust you have. Read scripture with an open heart. Offer forgiveness you have delayed. Serve someone whose need is within reach. Faith grows not by waiting for more, but by using what you have.

This is not a solo journey. Walk with companions who will pray and check in. Recommit to the practices that water trust; worship, prayer, fellowship, and works of mercy. Remember the order of grace: God moves first. We respond in love. The seed may be small, but the Savior who holds it is faithful.

Faith to Change invites you to take the next small step of obedience and trust that God will meet you there. The ground may feel thin, but grace is already beneath your feet.