Daily devotion – a mustard seed
The Parable of the Mustard Seed – Mark 4:31 – 34
Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.
The small mustard seed grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches:
This is an unnatural growth of such a small herb.
Many believers see this as a beautiful picture of the church growing so large that it provides refuge for all of the world. But this mustard seed plant has grown into a monstrosity, and it harbors birds — who in the parables are emissaries of Satan, according to the foundational parable of the soils (Mark 4:13).
“The growth of the kingdom will not result in the conversion of the world. In fact, some of the growth will give opportunity for Satan to get in and go to work!” (Wiersbe)
Psalm 127: 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it;
How often throughout the Old Testament, God’s people Israel, were the smallest army in the battles? This so to prove that it was the Lord Himself who would give them the victory and not because of the size of their army or their ability in battle. We can think of Gideons conflict in particular when God reduced Gideon’s fighting force to just a few hundred men.
Jesus, in considering the growth of the work of God, reminded us that size and status are not necessarily benefits. Corrupt Christianity has been a curse to the world, being the form of godliness without the power.
When they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples:
Here again we see the reason Jesus taught in parables, it was for the hungry in heart who wanted more of the kingdom of God that they pressed in to seek from Jesus the mysteries of God to be revealed unto them.
Let us remember numerical growth is not necessarily a demarcation or measure of success in the Church of Jesus Christ.
Psa 51:16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.