'Like a mustard seed' was a very well known proverb within the Jewish community to describe something small. The mustard seed is black and about the size of the head of a pin. But when it grows, it can be up to 15 feet tall and 12 inches in diameter. Jesus used this in Matthew 17:25:
"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."
However, He used it to describe something bigger in Mark 4:30-34:
And He said, "How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? "It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE." With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples."
It's obvious that these verses talk about the Kingdom of God being extended unto earth. About 6 years ago a very dear friend from Tuscaloosa (AL) came to Guatemala. Pastor John Vaughan brought a group of men with a 'mustard seed,' a few dozen boards, nails, hammers and a tin roof. I remember as if it was yesterday the prayer of Pastor John when we dedicated the church. He said, "...may this, the Lord's house, be a base to reach many people in northern Guatemala (Coban)."
The past couple of days I was on a missionary visit along with two other pastors. Our hearts were overflowing with joy and praise to see that the mustard seed that was brought and planted by the Alabama team 6 years ago has now grown two sister churches and four preaching points! Also included are three pastors graduated from the Bible Institute and many people being reached for Christ. In order to not take too much space I will be sharing two pictures from this story. The pink building is the mustard seed planted 6 years ago and the plain wooden building is one of the four preaching points about to become a church.
Don't
ever think that what you do for God is too small. Even the smallest things put into God's hands are made huge for His kingdom, honor and glory. So please join me in planting as many mustard seeds as humanly possible.
