Opening to Possibility

Do you ever find yourself discouraged by your life and your impact, or lack thereof, on others? Do you look at what others are doing and wish you could be different?

I wonder if a new look at God’s Kingdom would help you see your life differently.

Jesus had so many ways of illustrating the Kingdom he had come to share. Each parable he told highlights a different aspect of the Kingdom. Today’s parable can be found in all three of the synoptic gospels, each with slight differences. Maybe Jesus told the parable more than once; maybe they just remembered it differently. Here is Mark’s version:

“Again, He said, ‘What shall we say the Kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.’” Mark 4:30-32

An Invitation to Be Present

I invite you to sit with these words before reading any further. Imagine yourself there in the crowd, listening to Jesus. He has just told the parable of the seeds we looked at several weeks ago. Now he is looking around the crowd: What is he seeing? What is he wondering? Do his eyes light on yours?

And then he speaks.

Reread the words.

Jesus uses two rhetorical questions here; the second one answers the first.

Did you wonder, as I did, who He was referring to when He used the words “we”?

Is He inviting us to wonder with Him about this Kingdom?

What lies within the idea of God's Kingdom being likened to a mustard seed?

Allow the Spirit of Jesus to spark your imagination.

Were you a Jewish listener, you would have expected Jesus to liken the Kingdom of God to a cedar of Lebanon. The Jewish Scriptures usually spoke symbolically of empires or kingdoms as “cedars of Lebanon.” These trees were the most majestic and glorious, towering over their neighbors, lofty and lifted high, and making the best timber. Look at Ezekiel 17: 22-24 where he offers a messianic prophecy that from a branch of a mighty cedar would come a mighty kingdom, and Ezekiel 31: 1-9 talks of the empire of Egypt as a mighty cedar in which birds of the air could find shelter.

Jewish listener, are you confused? Disappointed? Ready to give up hope that this is the Messiah and to walk away? A Kingdom like a mustard seed? A tiny, insignificant thing that, once placed in the ground, can spread like a weed, and become a nuisance?  A Kingdom without glory and power? Not at all what you were expecting!

The Potential of the Seed

The question for us right now is to wonder what message God has for us, as Kingdom subjects. Why a mustard seed? What about being so small made it significant? If the Kingdom of God was to start from something really small…Think about this. It did-- an ordinary itinerant rabbi who left an insignificant group of 12 weak guys to begin to spread the word…this Kingdom wasn’t to look glorious and majestic; it wasn’t become an economic power; it was mysterious then, and maybe still is.

Let’s look at that mustard seed. Seeds always represent hope and potential.  It always fascinates me that within a tiny seed is the blueprint for what it is to become.

What makes the mustard seed amazing is its massive capacity for growth. That growth is inevitable and unstoppable. The seed will quickly sprout, grow and in warm weather produce flowers that then produce pods. If you are not careful, the pods will burst and spread seeds all over your garden—be warned!  Did you follow Dom’s advice and grow some mustard seeds? It sounds like you had better be careful about putting them in your garden! But if you are watchful, you can collect the pods as they begin to turn brown and harvest them. Mustard seeds can be used fresh, but like other herbs and spices, if you plan on storing them long term, they will need to be dried.

And apparently, a mustard plant can grow tall in the right conditions, although it seems not into a tree as we picture trees, because it has no central stem. I wonder if this says something also about God’s Kingdom—that it will be different to the typical way we view kingdoms. And yet, it has grown large over the centuries and has offered shelter to people from every country.

Returning to our question: why choose the mustard seed, Jesus? Yes, it is small but mighty, and it also is useful in many ways—these tiny black seeds are greatly enjoyed by the birds but are also harvested for their oil and ground into powder for culinary and medicinal purposes. So, what does this tell us about God’s Kingdom?

Kingdom Principles to Consider

Ø  God can use small beginnings for great purpose. Think of God’s choice in coming to earth to birth this new Kingdom. Yes, a seed in Mary’s womb that grew into the baby Jesus. And he grew up, virtually unknown until at 30, he gathered a small group of men and began to preach and demonstrate this Kingdom life.

“You do not realize now what I AM doing.” John 13:7

Ø  God’s standards are different from the world’s. The world rejects the “weeds,” that which is considered lowly and worthless.

  “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.” 1 Cor 1:27  

Ø  God’s Kingdom welcomes the outcasts. So much of Jesus’ ministry was to those who were considered unimportant to the world.

“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, any tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.” Mark 2:15

Ø  God’s Kingdom brings blessings. Everywhere he went, Jesus extended healing and love, joy and peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” John 14:27.

Ø  God’s Kingdom calls for patient faith. We live in “already and not yet” time.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1

Ø  God’s Kingdom transforms from the inside out.

“Through us, [God] spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.”

2 Cor 2 :15

Ø  In God’s Kingdom, little things matter.

“And whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42

An Opportunity to Respond

This Kingdom includes you and me. We may feel small, and yet maybe we also have a desire to do something significant and leave a legacy. The mustard seed reminds us that Kingdom work not only can start small but must. Remember we have nothing that we have not been given by God. Anything we do comes from the “seeds” God has already “planted” in us.

Everything that makes up God’s Kingdom today started with one person and a dream; someone had the tenacity and courage to believe in their dream, take their “seed” and plant it, nurture it and allow it to slowly grow, to bring it to fruition. Think of the people you admire. Why do they stand out to you? This is a moment to pause and say thank you to them.

So, now we are coming to you. What are the “seeds” God has planted in you? What dreams? What possibilities? I encourage you not to underestimate yourself. And to remember it doesn’t have to be something big. My daughter used to love to RAK her friends. RAK: Random Acts of Kindness. That began as an idea someone had and then shared it with others, and so it grew. Probably you have been the recipient of such an action.

What about a smile? A smile or a helping hand while you are shopping has the power to make someone’s day. What about in your neighborhood? Is there a way to reach out and bless those who live nearby? Ask God for opportunities to share your life with others.

What about your dreams? Maybe you have not shared them with anyone. Choose a friend you trust and share your heart and begin to brainstorm together. Be willing to take a risk. If the first thing you try doesn’t work, take a deep breath and be open to something else.

Every moment is an opportunity for growth and change…embrace the moments; they hold tremendous potential.

And remember, you have God’s Spirit to prompt you and to lead you into those adventures you have not yet even thought of.  Go, spread the aroma of the fragrance of God in your world.