The Kingdom's Silent Growth

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Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33 (ESV)

31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

Devotion:

            Jesus likens the kingdom to very small things in these parables. He knows the kingdom he is bringing will start out small, but grow to enormous size. While the mustard seed is not technically the smallest seed known to man. It is a very small seed and represents the smallest of the commonly used seeds in Palestine at the time. Within that tiny seed is the ability to produce a tree of 10 to 15 feet tall.

            While all seeds produce plants that are larger than their seeds the mustard seed is extra energetic in producing such a large plant. This is the story of Christianity. Jesus and 12 ordinary young men started it. Not many MBA’s in this crowd. There were four fishermen, a tax collector, all men who until Jesus got ahold of them were completely unremarkable. The same is true in our own day and age. The people who make the most impact are frequently those without fancy degrees after their names but ordinary men and women who are available and willing to serve when God calls upon them.

            Kingdom growth is a God driven thing. Men may devise strategies, but it is God who brings success or failure to their programs. Jesus then goes on to tell another parable to describe the kingdom.

            This parable tells a brief story about a woman who was making bread. She was making a lot of bread. While we cannot be sure exactly how much a “measure” is. Commentators estimate that three measures would be approximately 10 gallons. The woman in the parable hid a small abound of leaven in the dough until it was all leavened.

            Both of these parables feature the kingdom's growth as having small beginnings. The growth of both is in tiny steps almost hidden from sight. These parables illustrate the way God works in the world. While miracles such as the parting of the Red Sea for Israel to cross make headlines. The work of missionaries in far flung corners of the earth may produce more lasting growth for the kingdom over all. Let us pray that we might like the mustard seed and the leaven bring about kingdom changes in our world.

Prayer:

            Lord, we come to you today seeking your help in changing our world. Our world is so hurting and broken and has been for so long that it no longer realizes that it is in desperate need of you the great physician. May you grant growth to your kingdom in this world. Quiet, unassuming growth that will slow the decay of our world. In Jesus name we ask it. Amen.

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