Faith to forgive and faith in seeking forgiveness...
In Luke 17:1-5, Jesus teaches His disciples about forgiveness. Their immediate response: "The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!'" (Luke 17:5 ESV)
Isn't that interesting? Forgiveness is often extremely hard, but Jesus says we ought to forgive. The disciples got it. They knew they needed bigger faith from God to forgive how people wronged them.
Likewise, if we can realize how deeply we've wronged someone else, it will seem to be impossible to recover from it. Jesus says a person would rather have a large stone placed around their neck and be thrown into deep water than to cause someone else to sin (see Luke 17:2). Jesus says, "Pay attention to yourselves!" (see vs. 3). It's serious.
No wonder, whether in seeking forgiveness, or in needing it the disciples would say "Increase our faith!"
More so, then, I'd say we should cry out to God for how we have sinned against Him. Father, "Increase our faith!" We need more sense to seek You, more faith to hold fast to You and more of You in general. As for me, Lord God, increase my faith!
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