THE MUSTARD SEED
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”
Mark 4:30-32 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Mark tells us that Jesus never taught the people without using parables—He knew the people needed practical stories to comprehend spiritual principles. This is perhaps one of the most profound parables because it uses the natural function of the seed to illustrate the power of God’s Word to work in our lives. The mustard seed is used by Jesus in each of the gospels to symbolize what is small and insignificant but can become powerful. In Matthew 17:20 and Luke 17:5-6 Jesus compares mustard seed to having faith. He tells us that having faith the size of a mustard seed releases great things in our lives. In Mark 4 and Luke 13 Jesus talks about the kingdom of God being like a mustard seed. It seems insignificant and small but from that small seed of faith in Jesus comes a massive transformation of a person and a culture. We can look historically at the early church and see the explosion Jesus was talking about. Jesus started with 12 disciples—and one of them failed. He attracted crowds of over 5000 during his life and ministry. But in the end, there was only 120 who stayed in Jerusalem in prayer after His death and resurrection. But from these 120 “mustard seeds” came a movement that turned the city of Jerusalem upside down and within a short period of time impacted the known world. Within 300 years the Church was an international force. The Bible becomes the top selling book of all time transforming lives thousands of years after the words were originally written. Seeds have life inside of them that never die. Once that seed is received into a heart, life is released. When we accept God’s “mustard seed” of truth into our lives we begin the transformation process. We become a part of this movement that has and is transforming our world.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit please help my heart to be a receiver of Your truth. Help the “mustard seed” of God’s Word to daily grow in me.
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