Mustard Seeds

Jesus once described the kingdom of God, which grows within us, by the way (cf. Lk 17:21), by saying, "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" (Lk 13:19).

This mustard seed, which was regarded as "the smallest of seeds" (Matt 13:32a), grew to be a plant that was seen as "the largest in the garden" (Matt 13:32b).  I have read that some have grown so large that a man on horseback could hide behind them.

It would seem then, that if one had the smallest amount of kingdom faith, that he would, in time, have a "mountain-moving kind of faith."  In fact, that is what Jesus said in Matthew 17:20, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move."

So, why work on something like  faith development?  If a mustard seed faith is that great, why concern ourselves with its growth?  Because, like the mustard seed, faith that is not growing is dead. James says, "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead" (2:26).

A mustard seed in your hand or lying on a rock, has no vitality - it is dead until it germinates.  It must be planted and watered in order to become a living, growing thing, which produces an abundance of harvest.  It may also require some cultivation, some digging around it, removing weeds and providing nutrient for the soil.

Do you recall what Jesus said about a seed's viability?  Listen to the Master, "Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds" (Jn 12:24).

It's good to have mustard seed (tiny) faith, but don't be satisfied with it, don't keep your seed on the shelf.  Take it down and plant it, water it, cultivate it.  Put your faith to work by stepping out in ministry.  Cultivate it by study of the word, prayer and serving.  Plant your mustard seed faith and develop it until it becomes a tree that provides a blessing for many like the mustard tree and the birds Jesus spoke of in Scripture.   Jus' Say'n.