Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come." He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
I love the parable of the mustard seed, it was one of the first sermons I ever delivered - to an all age service in fact - and has stayed with me ever since.
Today at church we heard wise words about the text; about how our faith might seem small but that the kingdom of God is huge and we need not fear that growth will continue.
I however am taken off on a different angle. This parable talks to me of the very little we CAN do as human beings in the world; It is small like a mustard seed. God is then the fertiliser, farmer and nurturer of our actions; turning our works for Him into the large accomplishments He can achieve. How very reassuring I find this as I struggle to do all I believe I should.
1 comment:
Amazing parable, can be taken so many ways. I am rewriting the sermon I gave on it, in my head today, wishing I has more time toull over these things before committing pen to paper (fingers to keyboard).
Thanks.
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