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My most precious possession is a mustard seed charm I was given after my mom passed away over 14 years ago. I remember as a child sitting with my mom and going through all the charms on her bracelet and her telling me about each one and what they meant to her. And when she would get to the mustard seed she would tell the story from the Bible and say, "Marlene, if you can have faith as small as this- God will do great things!" Some days I still feel that my faith is that small and yet if I really am honest I know that it has grown with all of my life experiences.
This week our Discipleship Class was studying the book of Matthew and of course we read about the parable of the Mustard Seed and I was reminded by God that there are infinite possibilities in little beginnings. God's kingdom as recorded in this parable is compared to the smallest item in the biblical farmer's experience- the mustard seed.
These mustard trees grew in abundance by the Sea of Galilee and in the south hill country of Judea on the Mount of Olives. These trees weren't planted by the local farmers, but by the birds and wind carrying the seeds and scattering them about. Once rooted these trees grew to a height of eight to twelve feet!
Jesus teaches us that the kingdom of God is both like the seed and the full grown mustard tree. Small or large, Gods provincial care is there for its growth. The mustard seed symbolizes something small and apparently dead. Yet when sown, it is resurrected into a full, living tree!
In John 12:24 Jesus spelled this out when He said, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."
In our Bible study we were asked the question-
Is anything or anyone holding you back from Christ's call?
My lack of faith is my biggest hurdle and yet God is always there and reminds me He is bigger than me!
Without me, God will raise and establish His Kingdom.
Out of our little beginning He will reap a full harvest.
Whether we are given a great task or a small responsibility,
we must do it joyfully, for out of our endeavors God will raise bountiful blessings.
Let God use each one of us in what ever means he can and may our faith grow as the mustard seed does.
My prayer is that all of Newark Valley will see "us" and ask,
"What do you have?
How can I get it?"
Marlene Larson