Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series. Today, from Luke 13:18-19, we reflect on the Parable of The Mustard Seed and how we are to believe in the progress and ultimate success of God’s kingdom.
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‘Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 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.”’ (Luke 13:18-19)
The oldest known tree in the world is a Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) located in the White Mountains of California. This tree, often referred to as ‘Methuselah’, is estimated to be over 4,800 years old. At some point, this great tree would have been an inconspicuous and seemingly weak seed and sapling. However, the power in the seed created a life that has continued for nearly 5 millennia!
In this mustard seed parable, we see that the power is in the seed. The type of tree, its longevity and size are all dependent upon the nature of the seed. Likewise, the effects of the Kingdom of God are dependent upon the power of the King and His plans no matter how small and weak it seems at the beginning.
Jesus likens the kingdom of God to a mustard seed. Like a mustard seed - easy to dismiss and ignore - so Jesus was easy to dismiss and ignore. Many in Israel, and many of the religious leaders, rejected Jesus as their promised King and Messiah. However, like the mustard seed that grows into such a massive tree, so, Jesus’ reign and impact will be universal.
‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.’ (Isaiah 9:6-7).
This child of Bethlehem, born in poverty, will reign forever! His death, seemingly foolish and weak, is the hope of the world and the power that will lead to the restoration of all things and the salvation of multitudes who will live in renewed creation and in renewed ‘resurrection’ bodies.
Response
Have you and I lost hope in the spreading and growth of The Kingdom of God? Do we know that Jesus plans to bring many into the Kingdom? Do we know that His Kingdom will fill the earth ‘as the waters cover the sea’? Let’s reaffirm our faith that He is ‘Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.’
Let’s pray together
“Lord Jesus, I thank you for this great principle and promise that tiny, insignificant things are important and can become more than we can imagine. Help me to faithfully serve you in the small ways. Today, I reaffirm that even my small acts of faith are a part of your great scheme for the growth of your Kingdom throughout the world. Amen.”
Community Group Notes
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
Please ensure that you and your group are aware and have the details for our week of prayer next week.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
This week is ’SIV Week’ (Serve, Invest and inVite) and so we will give most of our time to thinking and praying about helping to bring our community to Jesus.
Our message on Sunday, as we restarted our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus Is series, was from Luke 13:10-35. This section, although seemingly separate parts, is joined together by the idea that although many reject Jesus (Luke 13:10-17), nevertheless, the Kingdom is growing (Luke 13:18-21) and, although this is true, it’s not automatic and we need to tell and call people to respond to the gospel (Luke 13:22-30), being fuelled by loving compassion that overcomes fear and rejection (Luke 13:31-35). In summary, we could put it:
Jesus’ Kingdom is growing and we must play our part, fuelled by compassion.
Please read Luke 13:10-35 and discuss:
Did God speak to you about anything from Sunday’s message?
What promises does this text make about the success of the gospel and how are we to respond to this?
What does this text teach Christians about their role in the spreading Kingdom?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus.
Let’s pray together: Pray for the Spirit to fill us and move us to be like Christ who mourned over Jerusalem’s current rejection of Him.
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