Daily Reflection – 1/31/2020
Sacred Scripture
He said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the Word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private. ( Mark 4:26-34)
Reflection
I wonder if you ever thought of yourself as a farmer? Certainly, some of our international readers do and are. But the fact is that each of us is called to be a farmer. Whether we live in the largest of cities or the smallest of villages, each of us is called to plant seeds.
We may be limited in what we can do, but the thing is that we do have a part to play. God invites us to be part of his work, helping others along the road to heaven, perhaps by prayer, by example and for a few of us by preaching. But all of us are invited to play a part.
Jesus uses the parable of the mustard seed. It is a tiny seed, but it can grow into something many thousands of times its size. In other words, although we are small, we can have a lasting influence on the world around us, even though we may not realize it in our own lifetime.
God’s kingdom starts from the smallest beginnings in the hearts of men and women who are receptive to God’s word. And it works unseen and causes a transformation from within. Just as a seed has no power to change itself until it is planted in the ground, so we cannot change our lives to be like God until God gives us the power of his Holy Spirit.
And where do we most clearly see the reign of God? We will find it unfolding in our homes whenever we are patient with or forgiving toward those with whom we live. We will recognize it in the helping hand extended to us at school or at work, in the gentle and healing touch of health caretakers, in the strong arm of those on whom we depend. We will appreciate it in the honesty with which financial or business transactions are conducted, in the willingness of others to provide for us in our need, in the courage of women and men who place themselves in harm’s way for the sake of others.
Do you allow the seed of God’s word to take deep root in your life and transform you into a fruit-bearing disciple of Jesus Christ?
Prayer of The Day
Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and transform me into the Christ-like holiness you desire. Increase my zeal for your kingdom and instill in me a holy desire to live for your greater glory.
Daily Note
The best way for us to witness is to go and do and be the kingdom of God in the world. And the best way for us to grow as a disciple is not to wait to be spoon-fed interesting bits of theology that make you go, ‘Hmm, I never knew that.’ The best way to grow as a disciple is to go and stare hunger in the eye and do something about it, it is to go and find out what brokenness is, and then show people what it means to be whole, it is to go and find death and darkness and speak words of life and light. It is to find people and bring them to Jesus’ table so they can taste and see that God is good.
Yes and amen