Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."
The simple lesson portrayed in this parable is that with God a little goes a long way! Jesus is trying to open the eyes of the people to understand the nature of the kingdom of God and how God actually works. The world is filled with misperceptions about the ways of God. Most people are inclined to relate to God primarily from the perspective of human reason. Our need to understand HOW God will do something tends to override our capacity to believe that He will! Many people can only believe the possibility of something if they can grasp how it will come to pass. This need is a tremendous handicap to faith!
The very nature of God’s work in the earth is that it takes place on a level beyond human comprehension. Isaiah captures this reality in his prophetic statement found in Isa 55:8-9 where he says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” The work of God is not confined to what we can comprehend, but it is hindered by our lack of ability to believe! Prov 3:5 lays a foundation of trust under our capacity to believe by saying “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…” Can you suspend your need to understand and lean wholly on a trusting relationship with God!? This concept provokes us to ask the underlying question that supports the entire work of faith, “in the depths of our hearts, do we believe that God can be trusted?” Settle this issue and your life of faith will explode with new victories!
In Mark 4:30-32 Jesus is working to enlarge the people’s ability to trust God by opening their eyes to the ways of God. The knowledge of God’s ways is central to participating with Him in fulfilling His purpose. Moses grasped this principle thousands of years ago. He was so aware of the necessity of knowing God’s ways that he prayed to the Lord in Ex 33:13 saying “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.” He was aware that the knowledge of God’s ways would lead to favor with God. The Psalmist in Ps 128:1-2 was also distinctly aware of the benefit of knowing God’s ways. He states confidently “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. 2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” Surely Jesus was aware of these and other promises that come to those who know and walk in God’s ways. This parable was a purposeful effort to enable more of God’s people to enjoy this blessing.
The parable that Jesus uses to instruct the people in Mark 4:30-32 is a reflection of our common tendency to judge things negatively when they are small. The prophet Zechariah talks about this principle in Zech 4:10 where he says "Who despises the day of small things?” Man’s impatience for the process of development often robs him of the ability to see what God is doing. It is this deficiency that Jesus is addressing. In His parable He identifies the reality that the kingdom of God starts as the smallest of seeds but grows to become the largest of plants in the garden. We cannot judge the day of small things. We must have eyes to see the process that is at work in the invisible realms of God and pray! Join with God in prayer during the seasons of the small and labor for the work of enlargement that reflects this kingdom principle. Job receives a prophetic promise of this nature in Job 8:7 where the Lord assures Him “Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.” Humble beginnings are often now indication of the great future that is just around the corner. This parable of Jesus is intended to open our eyes to see the process of God by faith. God is working no matter what your “now” may seem like!
No comments:
Post a Comment