The mustard seed
What if? What if the small initiative we take today results in someone accepting Christ as their saviour in 10 years? Jesus tells us something really interesting on this matter. 2000 years ago he explained a parable that is as relevant then as it is now. At that time the mustard seed was the smallest seed planted. But still, everyone knew the growth it would result in when it was given the right amount of time and the right circumstances. In Matthew 13:31-32 Jesus takes this process and likens it to the kingdom of God. He illustrates how it will be seen as the smallest of them all, but then, inch by inch, develop into one of the largest garden plants.
Impatience. That may be a factor that keeps us from taking steps in faith and then letting those initiatives take their time to grow. We often have the mindset that if we can’t see a result within 5 minutes that makes the action unnecessary. For instance, if we tell a friend about Jesus and they seem to neither listen nor reflect on the thought, our first impulse can be to give up. Especially when we take courage and do it once more and the same thing happens again. Here we need to drop the worldly perspective and look deeper at the individual seed that was planted in someone’s heart. Those small actions contain more potential and opportunities than they seem to. The person who’s been encouraged by you might not appreciate it at first glance, until the day when they don’t know where else to turn.
In the same way that God takes care of the small seeds in other people, he will be the one that multiplies our small initiatives. Give God your 1 and he will multiply it by his heavenly numbers. Those numbers can lead to a product that transforms another person’s life. The encouraging words you say, the smile you give to a stranger and the one time you choose to sit by the lonely student in the cafeteria - God sees that. It wasn’t for nothing. We should therefore love people by words and actions. Both of them are ways to be a farmer in God’s kingdom.
We should therefore love people by words and actions. Both of them are ways to be a farmer in God’s kingdom.
One day a seed will blossom. This will mean that the harvest is ready. You may not be there to gather that harvest, but without your choice to plant a seed, the harvest would never have been prepared. God works in the small things.