17 January 2011 Devotion for Today "Mustard-Seed Faith" Matthew 13:31-32

17 January 2011 Devotion for Today "Mustard-Seed Faith" Matthew 13:31-32

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. Matthew 13:31-32

Not long ago I visited an old house in West Virginia that was familiar to my childhood and teenage years, but I place that I have not visited in well over thirty years. The first thing that struck me was how dilapidated it was. The memories I had of its occupants was that they were meticulous housekeepers and fixer-uppers. They would be very disappointed to see the condition of this old house now if they were still living. But the thing that struck me the most was how small the place actually was. For some reason, I remembered this house much larger. It was a modest home even then, but it is strange how things look larger to you as a child than what they actually are. I stood there looking at the place thinking, "Was it always this size, or did I remember it being much larger?"

The Lord has impressed upon me lately the need for my faith to grow. I can remember times when my faith in Him was much greater than it seems to be now. Or is it that I have no less faith than I ever did, but the size of the problems, combined with the wearing down of one's spirit with age, seems to make the obstacles in my life much larger than I remember them being. Perhaps my capacity or confidence for allowing God to do great things through my faith was greater then. Either way, God is showing me that my faith and confidence in Him needs to be greater than the obstacles, problems, and difficulties I see around me.

This is what I see in the parable presented to me today. A mustard seed is a tiny little seed; not much larger than a speck. It can be easily blown away by a puff of wind or a sneeze. However, the mustard seed is remarkable not because of its size, but because but its capacity to grow. Christ tells us that while it is one of the smallest seeds, the tree which it produces is among the largest to be found in the region where he lived in Palestine- a tree so large that the birds of the air (meaning, very large birds like vultures and eagles) see in it an easy place to light their feet.

So is our faith. Everyone is given some faith or has some faith in some capacity. Now that faith might not be in the right things or in the right Person, but no one can deny how much that small faith can grow into things which most would seem to be impossible.

I will be reflecting on this parable a few more times this week. But until next time, reflect or analyze the size or better yet, the condition of your faith. Is it run-down from the stress, disappointment, and heartache that you have experienced over the years? You may have imagined it much larger years ago than it is now. If this is the case it has the capacity to grow into something greater than what you see at this time. It all depends upon the vision of your focus. You may see a tiny little mustard seed- but if that is all that you see, it will be easily blown away by the first difficulty it confronts. But if your mind's eye is upon what it can become, certainly greater things will become of it.

How ever you may see your faith today, may God help you renew the condition of your heart so that it may grow again.

Have a blessed day!