A Mustard-seed Kingdom

A Mustard-Seed Kingdom

Read: Mark 4:30-32

“What shall we say the kingdom of God is like? . . . It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants.”

Mark 4:30-32

“He is invited to do great things who receives small things greatly.”

—Cassiodorus

IN WORD Not only is this the rule of the kingdom; it is the rule of all kingdom things. The kingdom of God was almost unnoticeable when it began, in a sense, with a nomad named Abraham. Then a small nation of wanderers with the promise of a tiny tract of land. Then a Messiah of seemingly humble, obscure origins. Then a band of low-pedigree disciples. Then a fringe movement in the backwaters of an empire. Today, the kingdom of God has influenced the planet more than any earthly empire and any religious worldview. It is the largest and most fruitful of all the plants in this ravaged garden. That’s the historical implication of these verses.

But there’s also a personal application of these verses. We tend to think that accomplishing something in God’s kingdom means building large ministries with an extended reach. We are impressed by those who have done great things for God—defining “great things” as impacting lots of people in highly visible ways. And perhaps these are great things, in God’s eyes. But they began small. God’s kingdom is a mustard-seed kind of enterprise. Huge ministries often begin with one small step of faith. Lives are often changed by one kind word. Hearts are touched by one soft song, or one frightened witness, or a cup of cold water given in His name. Nothing in His kingdom is too small to count—or even too small to grow into something huge.

IN DEED Never despise the small things in your life. Never spend so much time reaching for the high-impact acts of ministry that you neglect the minute details of service. The massive doors of God’s kingdom swing on tiny hinges of our faith and obedience. Focus on the hinges, and you’ll see the doors open wide.