April 4, 2019

April 4, 2019

Running with Jesus

Luke 13:18-19 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

    A mustard seed! How many have owned one of those necklaces with that tiny seed in it? After being asked what Jesus kingdom of God looked like He gives two illustrations the first was a mustard seed’s that grows into a tree. Another text tells us if we have the faith of a mustard seed we could move a mountain. The seed is so small yet it makes a tree and the fowls of the air can lodge in it! Showing the seed starts small and grows into a tree. This was difficult for them to understand because they were looking for a man to come as a king and lead a revolutionary war to deliver them from Roman control. He came to lead a revolutionary war against our worst enemy Satan and death. His kingdom would begin small but grow. We can look now and see the world wide mission that Christ was talking about.  He told us our Faith is so small and if it was the size of mustard seed we could move a mountain.

    Our faith is like the kingdom of God it has to grow. A mustard seed has to be planted and cared for  to become a healthy bush for others to lodge on and to become useful. It requires a healthy environment, and that is where we have to place ourselves in an environment to be able to grow to become useful.  The mustard seed bush produces mustard that is used as a condiment and a spice. They recently discovered its oil is similar to diesel.

    Jesus was teaching His kingdom would grow into a worldwide kingdom. This has been a difficult text to apply, however, we can see the truth in Christ teaching revealing He is truth and we can see what a little faith can do. I think we go around looking for big faith and miracles when we just need to place a small seed of faith to our daily living. We have to be the birds and come and lodge in His kingdom and enjoy the benefits. So many of us try to do it all on our own! We must place that tiny seed of faith in God because He can grow it and help us with those mountains we face on a daily basis. Just like it takes time for that tree to grow so it is with our faith.  And our faith grows in Christ as we learn to trust in Him. The more we learn to trust, then the more we can make it through life. We need to give faith time to grow. 

Father, we ask you to place that seed of faith in our hearts as we face each circumstance. Let it grow then others can come to us and find that faith. Make our fruit useful to help add spice to life as we meet people! 

Tomorrow: He is Risen!