“It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”
Luke 13:19
What is the Kingdom of God like? Well according to Jesus, it’s a lot like what he described in this verse. If you’re anything like me, you might be a little bit confused about this at first. The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed? That’s not what I would’ve thought. I would’ve thought about streets of gold and pearly gates and the whole nine yards. Not a mustard seed.
But the point Jesus is trying to make here isn’t about what Heaven will look like. He’s not trying to describe something physical about the Kingdom. He’s trying to explain something about how the Kingdom of God works. Like the mustard seed, it starts very small. Over time, with water and soil and sunlight, it grows. Eventually that tiny seed will be a tree big enough for birds to make their nests in.
How is that like the Kingdom of God?
Well, the kingdom grows tree by tree. Every time a new seed is planted and a new tree begins to sprout, the Kingdom grows. How are these trees planted? With just a tiny seed.
As Christians, our purpose in this life is to spread the Kingdom of God to all peoples and all nations. It’s a lofty goal to be sure, but it starts small. It starts with planting a seed. It starts with talking to your coworkers about Jesus. It starts with sharing what you have with the poor. It starts with small words and actions that introduce the gospel to people who need it. It doesn’t always have to be a grand gesture or eloquent words, just a small seed.
With the right environment and the right nutrition, that seed will grow into a tree, and it too will produce seeds. Thus the kingdom grows.
Sometimes we feel like we can’t change the world. We can’t convert someone, we’re not qualified for that or smart enough or holy enough, right? Wrong. All it takes is a seed. Be bold enough to plant a seed, and trust God enough to make it grow. We can change the world planting one seed at a time.
Prayer:
Father,
Help me to be bold enough to plant a seed. Help me to never be afraid to share your gospel, but always trust that you can take even the smallest seed and grow a tree.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
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