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Mustard Seeds
Written by Erica Peck

Let’s talk seeds. Mustard seeds, to be specific. They are the smallest seed a gardener could hold in their hand, and yet that tiny seed can grow into a gigantic tree, reaching about 20 feet tall. It’s a plant that grows quickly, reaching its full size in only a few years. Though it starts as the smallest seed you’ll ever hold in your hand, it will grow to occupy a large space—so you better make sure it’s got some room!

18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 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." (Luke 13:18-19)

Jesus was always good about using concrete examples in this world that people could see and touch in order to describe aspects of Himself, or about the kingdom of heaven in His parables. Did you know that mustard trees grow wild throughout much of the Middle East and Africa? And that it can survive on as little as 8 inches of rainfall per year? It’s hardy and strong. When Jesus told the people this parable, He may very well have been walking next to one, pointing up at its branches so everyone could see and truly understand.

In another place in scripture, Jesus tells us, “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. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

Have you ever held a mustard seed in your hand? It’s so small, you feel like it may slip from your hand and drop it. And yet Jesus tells us that if we have faith even that small, “nothing will be impossible for us.” His kingdom will grow like a mustard seed—gigantic, growing quickly, and surviving, even the roughest of places. I believe this is true. Do you? In your circles of influence, where can you plant a “mustard seed” today? Will it be in a conversation with your co-worker? In the heart of your sticky-faced toddler? With the woman at the grocery store? Your influence has a farther reach than you think. And I have faith that He will use those seeds to grow His kingdom strong and mighty.

• faith
• hope
• love

Love hopes (1 Cor. 13:7).
Faith, hope, and love are the three that remain (1 Cor. 13:13).
And in Romans 5, we see that love is the source of our hope and the reason our hope is not fruitless.
And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:2b-5)
So, if you are lacking in hope, overwhelmed by suffering, struggling to persevere, or lacking in character, I invite you to be bathed by God’s love.
May the Holy Spirit pour out so much of God’s love in your heart that it overflows abundantly in your life, filling you with hope.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Rom. 15:13)