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(Jesus) also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’ 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.’ With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. (Mark 4:26-34)
Good day dear Friend! I pray the weekend was good to you, that you were blessed and that you blessed someone in a kind way. May our time in devotion to the Lord's word speak to our hearts and guide our paths for today and all days.
If you share a word about God and His goodness to someone, or if you take it farther and share a word about how important the Lord is in your life, you're planting a seed. Jesus, in this passage, shares who we become like the farmer who scatters seed on the ground, and then leaves it. The seed, in proper conditions, will grow and we may not be able to explain how. For example, when our third child was little she was scared one night. Dad went to lay down beside her and the Lord gave me a simple song that I sang to her. "Who takes care of Carli in the middle of the night?/Who takes care of Carli when she's had a fright?/Who takes care of Carli even when she's all right?/Jesus does." I've sang that to all of my girls and now to our grandchildren. The youngest, Ada, the other day was a bit scared and she told my daughter, her aunt, "Sing me that song that Grandpa sings!" My daughter asked, "Which song?" Ada replied, "You know, 'Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!'" She couldn't remember the other words, but she knew Jesus was in there somewhere! I pray that's a seed planted in her soul that will sprout and bear much fruit for Jesus. We share, and we leave it to God.
We may think, my faith is not that strong, how can I share? Share what little you have! God will take care of the rest. This is why Jesus spoke of the mustard seed. It is a tiny seed, but it bears fruit; so does our faith. The Message Version talks of the piñon seed, also a tiny seed, and it's quite tasty! But when planted bears huge trees. In the same way, the mother or father that speaks a word of faith should not be surprised when their little one(s) begin to understand and share their faith. The key is to start yesterday!
Jesus used parables, short stories with meaning behind them, to share the truth about God's kingdom; we should too. Our stories of faith hold the attention of people and others come to understand what it means. The key is to start yesterday. Oh. Wait. We don't have yesterday; but we have today. And, more importantly, we have right now!
PRAYER: Loving Father, increase my faith, but for now, what little faith I have, let me share it in ways that bless and plant a seed of faith. Let me begin with those around me so that they may be blessed and later they will bless others. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! What story do you have about how God worked a wonder in your life? Share it!
Eradio Valverde
PRAYER REQUEST: For those who feel depressed and alone. Prayers for Mr. Herman Grauke, who undergoes knee replacement surgery today here in Seguin Hospital. Continued prayers for my wife, Nellie. She sees her surgeon on Wednesday and we pray all is going well. Pray for those pastors who are returning back to their churches for another year, and a special prayer for those who are moving to new churches! Pray for one another. Pray for yourself.
