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"Here is another illustration Jesus used: 'The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.'" (Matthew 13:31-32) "Jesus also used this illustration: 'The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.'" (Matthew 13:33) One time, with a group of children, we made bookmarks. On the bookmarks, we printed Matthew 13:31-32 and pasted a mustard seed. Then we laminated the bookmarks. I remember the impact of seeing how small a mustard seed is. I remember thinking about something that small growing into a tree. What was Jesus trying to tell us in his parable? It's the idea of something small growing into something grand. It doesn't seem that he is saying that we have to understand all about the kingdom or have a full grasp of everything involved. It sort of goes back to the idea of being like a child again. There is an old camp song called Pass It On, written by Kurt Kaiser, which seems to fit. It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That’s how it is with God’s Love,
Once you’ve experienced it,
You spread the love to everyone
You want to pass it on.
It's kind of like that. If we can simply get hold of a little bit of the kingdom, it can grow into something beautiful. In fact, I don't think it could be contained. The problem may come in understanding what the kingdom is. Of course, it is a place where someone rules (Father or Jesus). It is a place where everyone else serves the king. But, simply put, it is a place of loving and being loved. Isn't that the law that Jesus set in place before he went back to heaven? It's amazing how much effect a little bit of love can have. To be loved is our deepest desire and the thing which is so often hard to find. When we love like Jesus loves, things change. Love can break down walls. It can heal hearts that have been battered and bruised by abuse. "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
It only takes a small seed to make a big tree. It only takes a small amount of yeast to make a loaf of bread. It only takes a small amount of kingdom love to change the world. Live by Faith
Original content at: http://becauseofyeshua.org/?p=89.
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Scott Bartchy is a radical. He believes in a subversive system that embraces those on the fringes of our society and seeks to establish a new way of life that goes against the status quo.