# 3 - Small Biggenings

Mark 4:30–32 (NIV)

30 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 of all seeds on earth.

32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

Matthew, Mark, and Luke mentioned the parable of the mustard seed.

Why is this mentioned several times throughout the gospels?

For background, mustard seeds are some of the smallest, yet they can grow to 10 feet high.

Jesus describes the picture of “birds can perch in its shade.”

The smallest of beginnings can end up providing safety and shade to many!

Likewise, Ezekial prophecies about this very scripture when he says

Ezekiel 17:22–24 NET

22 “ ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: “ ‘I will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and plant it. I will pluck from the top one of its tender twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 I will plant it on a high mountain of Israel, and it will raise branches and produce fruit and become a beautiful cedar. Every bird will live under it; Every winged creature will live in the shade of its branches. 24 All the trees of the field will know that I am the Lord. I make the high tree low; I raise up the low tree. I make the green tree wither, and I make the dry tree sprout. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it!’ ”

God is talking about the growth of His kingdom!

Birds find shelter from a seed that seems so insignificant you can hardly see it.

What a picture of the powerful way God uses small things.

Jesus also points out that a mustard seed – the “smallest of seeds on earth” – turns into “the largest of all garden plants.”

Jesus uses seeds and trees to teach us a powerful lesson:

small beginnings can produce a life-changing impact.

3 times in the gospels, it mentions how the birds find shelter and comfort under the branches:

Matthew 13:2 NIV

2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.

Mark 4:32 NIV

32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

Luke 13:19 NIV

19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

This prophecy is also mentioned in Daniel 4:12 : “Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.” This is the kingdom of God, life-giving!

Daniel 4:12 (NIV)

12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.

If God is in us and cares about our emotions, downplaying how we feel or what we are experiencing is taking away room for God’s loving care at work.

In this upside-down Christian kingdom where little things make a big impact, it is no wonder the enemy wants us to downplay or disregard how we feel because he knows our smallness is what God wants us to use the most to do big things.

The Hard Path of Humility

If you’re like me, you’ll admit that even after several days of talking about how God uses small things, it’s still hard to believe.

It’s hard to see the “mustard seeds” in our lives as opportunities for great growth.

Is God working in the unseen, furthering His kingdom, and strengthening his children through those who aren’t on the stage doing “great” things?

No one would have ever thought a mustard seed would be able to move mountains! Jesus says in Matthew 17:20

Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Moving mountains is a big deal.

Imagine the amount of equipment and the number of years it would take to move a mountain from where it stands into the sea?

Yet once again, God is letting us know that small doesn’t mean weak or incapable.

Our small acts of service -

caring for children,

giving to the poor on the side of the road,

speaking encouraging words to a friend,

or following through when we commit to something -

point to a God who says that “being faithful in the little things is faithful in much” (Luke 16:10

Luke 16:10 NIV

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

Our small acts of love and faith can move mountains of fear, shame, hopelessness, and fatigue in those around us, one small decision at a time.

Why do we minimize the little things God calls us to and resist the humility and growth that will come?

It can be hard and discouraging to recognize the small steps toward growth when we long for big opportunities to make a difference in such a broken world.

There is hope when we acknowledge God is working in the small and unforeseen things to spread the kingdom like wildfire throughout the earth.

He’s using the gift of humility and weakness for glory and redemption!

Just as Jesus did on earth, humbling himself and dying on a cross for our redemption, this one story of a mustard seed is mirroring the image of God’s plan all along.

small beginnings can produce a life-changing impact

Prayer:

Lord, it can be hard for me to believe or understand fully that you do big things through small people like me.

Or that the small things happening in my life are important to you.

Help me to see myself and my circumstances through your eyes.

I want to believe you are at work in me in ways I can’t see, but I need your help.

Give me eyes to see what I am missing, and help me to believe that you’re at work in me.

Prayer:

God, I admit it. I’m proud. I can be blind sometimes and only see You working when something big happens.

I don’t have eyes to see the small steps I’m taking to grow.

Too often, I fail to see the work You’re doing in others’ lives, too, because it’s just not big and obvious enough.

Help me be content with small acts of service and the difference they can make in others’ lives.

I can only do this with Your help.