dijon

Parable of the Mustard Seed

31 Here is another illustration Jesus used: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches."

matthew 13

i think this is so cool. it's such a short passage but means so much. the jews always expected that the day the messiah would come would be great, big, and victorious. they were expecting fanfare, loud marching, battle cries. but the messiah did come. there was no fanfare, no loud marching, no battle cries. there were miracles, there were teachings, there were rebukes, there was betrayal, there was suffering. this isn't what it was supposed to be like. it wasn't supposed to be Jesus that rescued the israelites. it was supposed to be a military leader, a king. not a humble carpenter from a small town. but look at what happened. that mustard seed grew and grew and grew. the disciples prayed. the Holy Spirit came down. peter preached. people were saved. the church started growing. and here we are today. from that small ministry in a small region to the entire world. isn't it amazing?? it just blows my mind.

and i love this, too. that birds come and make nests in its branches. i guess birds were sometimes meant to symbolize unbelievers and sinners and here we see these "birds" coming to make their homes in this kingdom. people who were hopeless now find hope in the kingdom. they find hope in Jesus. they want to come and build their home in God. it's a beautiful picture.

i think we have to realize that the kingdom of God came in a really insignificant way, through the mustard seed, through Jesus. and our insignificant actions do make a difference. it may be simply hanging out with someone and living love out with them or it may be simply inviting someone to church. it might be just sharing a real conversation with someone or going the extra mile to help someone out. you never know that that little something that you did just planted a mustard seed and set that person on a head on collision with God. =] i never knew that 2 years ago, my whole life would change because someone close to me brought me along to a conference which would eventually lead me to turn around my walk with God. and here i am today, wanting to finish up my bachelor's in psychology so i can head to seminary and try to obtain my masters in divinity to become a youth pastor. what mustard seeds, little or seemingly insignificant things that happened in your life, that got you to where you are today? live out love now. sow those seeds! you never know where it'll take someone. =]