When I was in high school and college, I worked in a hardware store that sold seed. We sold all types of seed, even mustard seed. Boy, was that seed small. It takes a lot of mustard seeds to make an ounce. However, an ounce of mustard seed makes a lot of mustard greens. Though the mustard seed is the smallest of seed, it is one of the biggest producers. It could be for this reason Jesus used the mustard seed in parables. In one verse, Jesus talks about a man who had a mustard seed, one seed. Here is the verse: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches. (Matthew 13:31-32)
The man planted the mustard seed in his field and it grew to be great and useful to the birds. It was small, but it was useful. Jesus also used the image of the mustard seed when He spoke about faith. Read the words of this verse: He replied, “because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed….” Jesus told the disciples they did not need a lot of faith, but they needed some faith. Faith, the size of the mustard seed. Sometimes our faith may seem rather small, almost non-existent. The good news is it only takes some faith, not a lot of faith, to be used by God. Just a little faith allows us to ask Him into our hearts. Just a little faith allows us to serve others. Just a little faith allows us to go talk to people about Christ. Just a little faith allows us to help those who are hurting. These things only take a little faith because a little faith allows God to work in our lives to do great things.
This is the time of the church year when the nominating committee is trying to fill positions within the church to keep the church going and growing. I know it is hard to say yes. Sometimes that is because we feel we can’t do what is asked of us. Being able to serve God is all about trusting His leadership and having faith. While it may seem like we need to have faith the size of a building, we only need to have faith the size of a mustard seed. For God to help us grow to be useful for Him, and to trust Him like the disciples, we need faith. While you may not feel as if God can use you, I encourage you to make yourself available to Him so He can show you how much a little faith can do. Until next week…
Peace and Blessings…
Johnny
