Week 34: Day 2
Today, Esther is sharing some thoughts on the parable of the mustard seed - check it out!
Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
Intro: Hi it’s Esther here, we’re going to read today from Mark chapter 4, starting at verse 30.
Bible: What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.
Thought: In 2005, Barack Obama spoke at the funeral of a 92-year-old woman from Detroit. He said this: “The woman we honoured today held no public office, she wasn’t a wealthy woman, didn’t appear in the society pages. And yet when the history of this country is written, it is this small, quiet woman whose name will be remembered long after the names of senators and presidents have been forgotten.”
These were the words spoken at the funeral of Rosa Parks, who - 50 years earlier - had changed the whole course of American history, through a single act of courage and of faith: by refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama.
Her arrest triggered a 381-day boycott of the bus system, led by the Rev Martin Luther King Jr.
Former president Bill Clinton said, “it was a single, simple act of dignity and courage” and that single, simple act struck a lethal blow to a whole system of oppression and injustice.
Often, history books are written about those who stand on the world’s stage, but too often they forget those who take small, simple steps of obedience and faith first… small, simple steps of faith, that have a BIG Kingdom impact.
In the passage, Jesus describes faith as a seed - a mustard seed like this so tiny, that I can barely see it myself! I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel insignificant: that my small step of faith, step of kindness, step of courage, feel so small that I can hardly even see it.
Those times when I intend to invite a friend to church and then bottle it, or when I say that I’ll pray for healing and then I lose my nerve. I wonder sometimes… is my faith too small? Can I make a difference at all?
But here, Jesus encourages us, that in the upside-down, topsy -urvy nature of the Kingdom, God can use the smallest of actions; when we combine them with faith in Jesus and the power of God- and multiply them to have an impact beyond our wildest imagination. The smallest seed becomes the biggest tree.
What is interesting is that Jesus is using this example at a time when he has just a handful of disciples who are following him – in the last chapter (Mark 3:13-18), he’s just chosen 12 individuals- a motley crew, who don’t look like much… and yet, (spoiler alert!) it is this movement of 12 apostles grows into worldwide movement of faith that provides blessing, security, freedom, etc. all around the world.
Friends, let’s not discount the tiny acts of love and faith - that might not look like much or feel like much. But when we put them in God’s hands, he is able to multiply them beyond our wildest imagination.
Prayer: God, today when my faith might feel small, I want to thank you that you say that it’s the smallest seed of faith that can grow into the biggest tree. God will you show me today how I can do mighty things for your kingdom, even by taking small steps. Thank you that you don’t discount the small acts, small offerings, small steps of faith. Will you take my small offering and will you multiply it for your kingdom, amen.
Challenge: I’ve got two challenges for you today! Firstly, see if you can find a seed, plant it and watch it grow – use it as a reminder that it’s the small things that can grow into something massive in God’s hands. And number two, get a couple of mates around you – just like Jesus did with his disciples – and ask each other what are the small steps of faith that you can be taking? How can you encourage each other and cheer each other on in the small things as well as the giant things?