“[The kingdom of God] is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.”
Mark 4:31-32
When we were in Israel, one day we took a drive beyond the city of Jerusalem. Three miles later, down the back side of the Mount of Olives, we entered Bethany — a little whitewashed village that hadn’t changed since the days of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. While I waited in the van, my friend Bunny spied an old, bearded Arab sitting at a table. “I’m going to go see what he’s selling,” she exclaimed. Moments later she returned holding out her hand to show me pea-sized brown dried seeds. “Would you look at these?! They’re mustard seeds! If we have faith the size of one of these…” she said, picking one up, “we can move mountains.”
“But they look kind of big,” I frowned. “I thought the mustard seed was the smallest of all seeds.” Bunny told me she said the same thing to the Arab vendor. “Let me show you what he did,” she said. She then cracked one of the seeds open and gently spread its contents across her palm. Bunny cupped her hands so the breeze would not disturb the infinitesimally tiny black specks…mustard seeds. The pea-sized pod contained thousands of breathlessly small seeds. Bunny dusted off her hand and sealed the package of pods. “And we’re going to scatter these wherever we pray on this trip!”
Short, faint prayers… small acts of obedience… little expressions of kindness and encouragement… all of these are like mustard seeds. When inspired and empowered by the Spirit, have great impact in the kingdom of God. Today, plan to “scatter mustard seeds” of encouragement, prayer, kindness and obedience, knowing that God will plant each seed…resulting in great glory to His name.
Though my faith be as small as a mustard seed, I praise You, dear Lord, for ‘growing’ Your kingdom through my life, witness, prayers, and ministry today.
Blessings,
