Focus

Breathe in clear thoughts of peace and reflection as you prepare to hear God speak to you through the scripture and the writer. Put aside all the things the world says you have to accomplish today and use this time to rest in God’s presence.

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Read

Mark 4:30-32 (NRSV)

He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

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Reflect

During the spring, most homeowners find themselves trying to make the outdoor areas around the house attractive: reprogramming the sprinkler system, pruning shrubs, fertilizing, weeding flower beds, and perhaps setting out seasonal plants.

Jesus’s parable of the mustard seed emphasizes the process of planting to result in growth. The mustard seed, the smallest of all plant seeds, required individual placement in the ground for best results instead of scattering the seed in a broad area. These tiny seeds harvested from the mature plant benefit the human heart, digestion, and muscular and neurological function.

Mark’s version of the parable says Jesus compared the mustard seed to the kingdom of God, growing to a large shrub. How does the believer plant in order to help the kingdom of God grow? Maybe the mustard seed sown at a particular instant could be what’s often called a random act of kindness—letting another shopper go ahead in the check-out line, holding a door open for someone, smiling at anyone, giving coffee and a donut to a stranger seeking assistance before Sunday services begin. How are you planting the seeds of God’s kingdom?

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Pray

Lord, give me the insight necessary to see opportunities for ministry that will assist in growing your kingdom. Help me to overcome the temptation to dismiss the value of small initiatives. Remind me that there is a larger world outside my “doors.” Amen.

Go with God.