From Small Seeds
I love this time of year, planting seeds. They look so small and lifeless, yet within them they are pregnant with life, and soon shoots burst forth.
These are how ours are doing at the moment:
And then before you know it, you have fully grown plants producing fruit or flowers – all from that one tiny seed. From something that is nothing to look at, something active and life-giving comes. We don’t need to know how seeds grow and develop to know that they do.
Mark 4:26-33
Another Story about Seeds
26Again Jesus said:
God’s kingdom is like what happens when a farmer scatters seed in a field. 27The farmer sleeps at night and is up and around during the day. Yet the seeds keep sprouting and growing, and he doesn’t understand how. 28It is the ground that makes the seeds sprout and grow into plants that produce grain. 29Then when harvest season comes and the grain is ripe, the farmer cuts it with a sickle.
A Mustard Seed
30Finally, Jesus said: What is God’s kingdom like? What story can I use to explain it? 31It is like what happens when a mustard seed is planted in the ground. It is the smallest seed in all the world. 32But once it is planted, it grows larger than any garden plant. It even puts out branches that are big enough for birds to nest in its shade.
The Reason for Teaching with Stories
33Jesus used many other stories when he spoke to the people, and he taught them as much as they could understand.
The Kingdom of God is not just the seed – it is what grows from that seed. It is not faith in itself that is important – but what grows from it. We can claim to have faith, and yet do nothing with it; or we can wonder at the size of our faith, yet use it for God’s good. A seed looks so small, but what grows from it is productive and noticeable.
The Kingdom of God is pregnant with life, growth and produce. It may look like nothing to some, it may sometimes feel like something very small and fragile when held in our own hands – but what can grow from it when it is planted and allowed to grow in our lives?
Lord,
sometimes my faith feels small and vulnerable,
I wonder that anything can come from it;
but I thank you that you do the growing,
that from even tiny seeds
large trees can grow.
So
today,
Lord I pray
that you will take the seed of my faith and help it to grow;
that you will grow your kingdom in me
and through me,
that your ways,
your new way,
may be seen
and may flourish
This year, I am again following the BigRead using Tom Wright’s Lent for Everyone – Mark. I’ll reflect here – if you’re following it too, or even if you’re not, please share with me.
Pam's Perambulation 