From the smallest of seeds

SCRIPTURE:

Jesus asked, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story shall I use to illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed! Though this is one of the smallest of seeds, yet it grows to become one of the largest of plants, with long branches where birds can build their nests and be sheltered.” Mark 4:30-32 (TLB)

OBSERVATION:

The parable of the Mustard seed has long been a favorite illustration in the church through the centuries. It looks at the tiniest of seeds growing to become one of the largest of garden plants. This illustration gives us the picture of exponential growth, a rate of growth so great it is far beyond the imagination.

When we think of the Kingdom of God, there are at least three levels we can see it in action.

First, is the Kingdom of God in the individual. Without Christ, the life is dark. There is no hope. But when one first seeks Jesus, a single ray of light enters the soul. As the soul finds joy and beholds the light, the light starts to grow and grow, shining brighter and brighter until it fills the whole soul and emanates out into a rich life blessing others and spreading that light.

Second, is the Kingdom of God in the church. After Jesus rose and ascended back to Heaven, the church largely consisted of only about 120 followers of Christ led by 12 Apostles. However, from Pentecost, the church has grown and spread exponentially all over the world with those calling themselves Christian numbering more than 2 billion. Of course not everyone who calls themselves Christian is truly Christian, but starting from just 120, there must be at least hundreds of millions of true Christians over the ages, a great exponential growth indeed!  

Third, is the literal Kingdom of God, where Jesus will really be the King when He comes back again and reigns the whole world from Jerusalem in Israel during the Millennial Reign. His reign has started off in individuals all over the earth, and the churches that they worship in, but ultimately His reign will encompass the whole world where every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.

APPLICATION:

Firstly, remember the energy and potential of the mustard seed within us. The Holy Spirit is the great power within us, with unlimited potential. However, how much we are able to grow and serve God depends on how much we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and let Him change us and mold us. Be aware of the great energy moving within us, and pray for God to help us work with Him to lead us and help us grow.

Secondly, thank God that we are part of His kingdom in the church, and seek to be part of that exponential growth, which is our mission and vision, to spread the gospel and make disciples from every nation, tribe and people.

Thirdly, remember that Jesus Christ is coming back again, and establishing His kingdom upon the whole world. Blessed and holy are those who have part of that first resurrection, who will join Him in establishing His kingdom on earth! Let us watch how we live now, in light of looking forward to His glorious kingdom.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, precious Lord Jesus, we thank You for the beauty of the mustard seed, that grew so large from a seed so small. Open our eyes and minds to recognize the mustard seed within us in Your Holy Spirit, which is able to help us grow and bring us to live purposeful lives greater than we could ever hope for or imagine. Help us be also part of Your kingdom expansion in the church, and in the marketplace. In all things, help us always remember Your kingdom is coming, and to look forward to Your glorious reign over all the earth! We bless You and praise You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen. 

ANAKAINOSIS, THE RENEWING

SCRIPTURE:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you. Romans 12:2 (TLB)

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:2 (The Message)

OBSERVATION:

The Greek Word used for Renewing, “Anakainosis”, significantly refers to the adjustment of one’s moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God, which is designed to have a transforming effect upon one’s life. Basically, Paul gives us two different ways of outlook in this verse. The first is thinking and looking the way the world does. The second is thinking and looking at things the way God does.

The world focuses on what is temporal. Immediate pleasures, material gain, the honor of one’s self in the eyes of others. God’s way instead calls us to look long term, to the life beyond this one. God’s vision sees this life as only temporary, and calls us to a life of abstinence from sinful ways, but a goal of holiness in God’s ways, no matter how unpopular it may be. The ultimate goal in the Christian’s life is to know what God’s will is and to follow His will.

APPLICATION:

First of all, we must recognize and remember that the ways and values of the world are not the same as God’s values. Our hearts are deceitful, and will try to excuse and fit worldly values into the church. That is why the health and wealth prosperity gospel has become so popular today. But the tone of Scripture as a whole never emphasizes this, instead calling Christians to persevere in suffering, to focus on the Lord instead of self, to seek God’s righteousness as utmost priority rather than worldly riches which though not wrong in itself, can prove a dangerous stumbling block.

How do we renew our minds, to adjust our vision and thinking to be like God’s? First of all, is to meditate on God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures. His Words are life, and we need to be disciplined and reading the Scriptures, and in doing so, we must cast off “Spectacles” or “Lens” of various kinds which veer us away from the truth. Read the Bible a book at a time, to try and understand the whole theme and message of the book. Jumping from text to text without looking deeper into the context is likely to lead us to error.

Secondly, we need to spend time in prayer and seeking God’s presence. The more we spend time with God, the more we understand His way of thinking and His vision. Throughout the day, even as we do our daily work, we need to keep the awareness of His presence with us, and listen for His Spirit’s quiet leading.

PRAYER

O Heavenly Father, precious Lord Jesus, we desire to have Your mind, Your way of thinking even as we live life on earth. Teach us Lord, to adjust our perceptions, our vision, our ways of thinking away from the ways of the world and instead focus on knowing and learning what pleases You. Open up Your Word to us, and help us cast off man-made pre-conceptions even as we read Your Word. Illumine our hearts and minds to know Your Word truthfully, and to read even in faith, to believe Your Scripture as it is.

We bless You and love You precious Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.