使徒们求耶稣增加他们的信心。他们想要一针强心剂般的信心，好使他们成为超级门徒。
耶稣却语出惊人地告诉他们，即使是很小的信心也能使他们做成大事。祂那时可能手里刚好有一粒芥菜种，要指出微小的事物有带来祂国度的大能。耶稣恰恰给了他们所求的——祂拣选了像他们这样的小种子，栽种信心的禾田，里面包括无数初信主、以耶稣为生命的主和救主的人。
那么门徒要怎样去预备好自己，才与法利赛人有别，为耶稣作工呢？
在当时的文化中，是没有八个小时的工作日加两次咖啡休息时间这回事的。仆人随时预备好来服事主人。有雄心的仆人，因为出于对主人的爱和忠诚，还会试图去做更多，甚至超越主人的期望。耶稣告诉门徒正是这样，要超越基本的要求来服事祂——至高的主、至高的神。祂期待他们努力不懈地为天国作工。
耶稣的跟随者并不是为了奖赏和赞扬，而是出于对祂的爱和感恩而服事祂。服事神是唯独回报神的恩典。恩典和感谢是神国中丰收的一部分。
耶稣啊，求帮助我们看见祢愿意使用微小的事物，好使荣耀单单归给神。我愿意服事祢，因为祢先爱了我。祢的恩典够用。奉祢的名祷告，阿们。
路加福音 17:1-10
1 耶稣又对门徒说：“绊倒人的事是免不了的，但那绊倒人的有祸了！
2 就是把磨石拴在这人的颈项上，丢在海里，还强如他把这小子里的一个绊倒了。
3 你们要谨慎！若是你的弟兄得罪你，就劝诫他。他若懊悔，就饶恕他。
4 倘若他一天七次得罪你，又七次回转，说：‘我懊悔了’，你总要饶恕他。”
5 使徒对主说：“求主加增我们的信心！”
6 主说：“你们若有信心像一粒芥菜种，就是对这棵桑树说：‘你要拔起根来，栽在海里！’，它也必听从你们。
7 你们谁有仆人耕地或是放羊，从田里回来，就对他说‘你快来坐下吃饭’呢？
8 岂不对他说‘你给我预备晚饭，束上带子伺候我，等我吃喝完了，你才可以吃喝’吗？
9 仆人照所吩咐的去做，主人还谢谢他吗？
10 这样，你们做完了一切所吩咐的，只当说：‘我们是无用的仆人，所做的本是我们应分做的。’”
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” - Luke 17:5
The apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. They desired a big bowl of spiritually fortified faith that would make them into superdisciples.
Jesus surprised them by telling them that even small faith would enable them to do great things. He might have had a mustard seed in his hand as he pointed to the power of smallness in bringing his kingdom. Jesus gave them exactly what they asked for—he chose little seeds like them to grow the fields of new believers in him as Lord and Savior.
What were the disciples to do differently than the Pharisees to prepare for the faith work of Jesus?
In the culture of that day, there was no such thing as an eight-hour workday with two coffee breaks. Servants were constantly ready to be at the service of their master. Ambitious servants also tried to go above and beyond—to exceed expectations out of loyalty and love for their master. Jesus told his disciples to go beyond the bare minimum service to him as supreme master and Lord. He expected them to work tirelessly for the kingdom.
Followers of Jesus do not serve to get awards or accolades. Jesus’ disciples need to serve out of love and thankfulness to him. Serving God is a matter of grace alone. Grace and gratitude are part of the harvest in the kingdom of God.
Jesus, help us to see that you work with small things so that the glory goes to God alone. I want to serve you because you first loved me. Your grace is enough. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
