How well is this seed of faith growing in you today?

Mark 4:26-32 NLT  

  26 Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. 29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”

  30  Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? 31 It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, 32 but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”

Interesting metaphors for a Kingdom. The act of a farmer scattering seed, and then the process of seed-growth happening without control by the farmer explains how this Kingdom, in which our Christian faith makes us citizen, is well beyond our capacity to fully understand, or to control. We are subject to it, rather than it being subject to us. We belong to it, it does not belong to us. When Christ changes our human nature and the Spirit of God inhabits us, making us into a new image, then the seeds of God's Kingdom are growing in us. Much about what we are experiencing depends upon our unconditional faith, and trust in God. We cannot control the Christ-likeness that grows up inside us, we can merely submit to it and embrace it as God unfolds His will in our lives.

Another seed- the tiny mustard seed-- about a millimeter in diameter-- represents this Kingdom of God as we allow it to be planted into our life by faith. The planted seed is hardly visible. Yet, when we permit the unseen forces of God to grow it, the ultimate size and benefit to others in the kingdom are beyond imagining. Many can take refuge in the faith growing within us. Many can find peace under the shade of our faith as we build faith in them and disciple them into a closer walk with God.

How well is this seed of faith growing in you today?
Your servant in Christ's love

Dan

drdanelliott@gmail.com