Matthew 13:31-33
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. As you breathe in, say the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
As we continue listening to Jesus describe the Kingdom of God through parables, read Matthew 13:31-33 picturing the images and stopping after each to wonder about how they relate to God’s Kingdom.
Both of these parables give us a picture of the ever-expanding nature of the Kingdom of God. The beginnings - tiny seeds and yeast - are in and of themselves inconsequential, but the end results are something of significance.
Consider the mustard seed. One seed is small enough to roll around between your fingertips, but the mustard tree can grow to a height of twenty or thirty feet and can spread about as far across.
Take a moment to become still while you picture a fully grown mustard tree with birds taking shelter in it branches. Then picture the tiny seed from which the tree grew.
Consider what might happen if you began each day asking Jesus to open your eyes to the situations in which you might drop a mustard seed of shalom in his name.
Share your thoughts about this with Jesus before you go on.
Read Matthew 13:31-33 again noticing anything new that stands out to you.
Followers of Jesus carry within them the seeds of the Kingdom of God. The smallest act of shalom, our individual efforts towards restoration, our seemingly insignificant acts of blessing done in the name of Jesus have the power and potential to take root and multiply the Kingdom of God in people and the world.
Every time we obey a word of Jesus or move toward someone in love, we unleash the Kingdom of God. Like yeast, our acts of shalom are catalysts to expand God’s good and perfect ways in our circles of influence and beyond, because as followers of Jesus, we are prompted and empowered by Jesus’ very Spirit to be his agents of restoration and hope in the world.
Stop to contemplate the fact that if you are following Jesus, you have within you the power and potential to bring the Kingdom of God into the world around you. Then become still and listen to Jesus.
What do you sense Jesus inviting you to do today?
What will you do to respond to him?
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