Mustard Seed
Luke 13:10-19
Then Jesus asked, 'What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed...'"
(LUKE 13:18-19)
In Southern California plants struggle for existence. The heat and frequent droughts make it hard for them to flourish. But one plant that has no problems growing here is mustard. It thrives in the very conditions that kill other plants. If you pull it out of your garden, it will return next year. The wind and the birds will plant those tiny seeds all over for you.
When Jesus made the statement quoted above, it was after a religious leader tried to stop Him from spreading the kingdom of God. But Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a mustard seed. The mustard seed grows from a tiny seed into a huge plant. No one can eradicate it because the seeds are so productive. Likewise, the kingdom of God cannot be stopped because just a little bit of it is so powerful. Jesus kept planting seeds, and look what has happened!
Many today would like to stop the spread of the Gospel. They work hard to discredit Jesus and His followers. But the Gospel keeps going forward as we keep spreading those tiny seeds.
INSIGHT
NOTHING CAN STOP THE SPREAD OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM. IT THRIVES EVEN IN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS. KEEP PLANTING THOSE SEEDS!
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
1 Samuel 30-31
Psalm 135
Ephesians 1-2
Luke 13:10-19
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath
10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”
WHEN ANGER IS GOOD
Can anger ever be a good thing? Anger is usually rooted in selfishness and leads us deeper into sin, but must it always be this way? Is it possible to be angry without sinning?
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