Focus
Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.
Read
Luke 13:18-21 (NRSV)
He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”
And again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
Reflect
Sometimes we are discouraged and feel like the things we work so hard to accomplish are small and insignificant. In these Parables Jesus explains that small things are not insignificant and can do great things to help in this world.
A mustard seed as small as it is when planted can grow a tree large enough to sustain life. Birds can perch in its branches and make nests. Small things we do behind the scenes in our churches can make big differences in the Kingdom of God.
If you’ve never baked a loaf of bread, you may not understand the radical difference that yeast makes. You take flour, water, a bit of oil and salt and knead it together with some softened yeast. It is pretty compact at this point, and if you were to bake it now, the bread would be heavy and hard. I’ve made some pretty awful bread in my day. As the yeast begins to metabolize the sugars in the dough, it forms carbon dioxide that puffs into tiny gas pockets all through the dough. When I bake bread I use a large pottery bowl and place the kneaded dough in the bottom of the bowl. By the time it has risen the dough is nearly overflowing the bowl. A small amount of yeast will leaven a large amount of flour. Small beginnings, large endings.
Pray
Father, too often I believe only what my eyes see, and I get discouraged. Forgive my faint heart. Help me to be filled with your hope and your vision for your Kingdom. Amen
Go with God!
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.