October 3, 2010

Luke 17: 5-10
"Doing What We Ought To Do"

Jesus has just warned his followers about stumbling blocks. He tells them to encourage the young ones among them... to rebuke those who do wrong... and to forgive those who do wrong and who say they are sorry... over and over and over again. And so, what is the apostles’ reaction? They say, "Increase our faith!" Not a bad response, is it? We probably would say the same thing if it were us being asked to forgive those who have hurt us… over and over and over again. A little extra faith might just be what we need.

But to this Jesus responded, "It isn't a matter of more... for the very little the apostles have is enough. It's more a matter of doing what is expected... doing what they are more than capable of... doing what they ought to do." In a real sense... it is a matter of "being"… of being exactly who they are… his followers.

You see, being a follower of Jesus is not easy. The apostles were finding that out. And many of us have found that out as well. Forgiving someone who has hurt me... no way! Turning the other cheek to someone who has already hit me once... you got to be kidding! Giving a new coat to someone who has already taken my best jacket... right! It would take a lot of something... perhaps something like faith... to be able do all of that. And some days it would take even more. But Jesus says his followers don't need more of anything. They have enough of what it takes. They have enough faith and everything else… because why? - Because they have received God’s own gift of faith to nourish and use. If God works through us, which I believe God does, it makes sense God would provide us with enough faith in the first place. God can do a lot with what we might see as only a little bit of faith. We should never underestimate what God and us can do.

If I had faith as small as a mustard seed, I might say, "Well, I have a little bit of faith. I can try a little thing." And so little things are done, like a smile or helping hand on the playground… or putting together a food basket for the shut in at Christmas time... or helping with a widow's higher than normal heating bill… or listening to someone who is hurting and just being there for them. What seems small is real1y quite large. Our "being" there for others is enough... doing what is already here, inside us... flowing from who we are in response to the needs of others. For in the end, isn't what matters being able to say, "We have done only what we ought to have done."

There is a difference between what we believe in and the act of believing. The act of believing requires trust... trust in God. Our being followers of Jesus the Christ enables God's doing through us. As followers of Jesus, living is a matter of "doing what we ought to do." It seems to me that Jesus is telling all his followers: "Forget the excuses... you don't need more faith... get on with doing what ought to be done. Be my disciples."

Likewise, Paul encourages Timothy... and us… "Re-kindle the gift of faith of God that is within you" (2 Timothy 1:6) and "live all of your lives seeing your cup as overflowing." That is the ‘kingdom living’ Paul has modeled, putting his feet and hands where his mouth is. Paul walked his talk. To have faith... to be faithful... means to live our life in accordance with our beliefs.

That’s hard for followers and leaders alike. We fall short… I fall short… because we are no different than everyone else. We strive, all of us, to be the best at what we do – whether it’s being a student, a pastor, a teacher, a farmer, a worker, a professional, a parent, or anything else. I want the church to be active and strong, its people growing spiritually, caring for one another and getting along, reaching out to others, becoming disciples of Jesus Christ… and when it’s not, I feel as a pastor, I have let God down. Yet Paul, like Jesus, gives those like me hope. He says, “Re-kindle the gift of faith God has given you,” which goes right along with Jesus’ words to his disciples to be who they were, because God had provided them with what was needed for the work to be done.

In a few moments, we will celebrate our faith. We will symbolically gather around the table where Jesus is host. Worldwide Communion Sunday is an affirmation of our faith. As you receive the gifts of the Lord’s table, as you affirm your faith today, I invite you to rededicate yourself as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Rededicate yourself to live your life in accordance with those beliefs and the grace you have received. A mustard seed's worth of faith is all we need for "doing what we ought to do."