Mustard Weed Believers

 

Title and Other images courtesy of Pixabay.com

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

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them.  “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move.  Nothing would be impossible.”  

Matthew 17:20

The seed of this sermon began cooking almost two months ago.  I was in my back yard pulling weeds.  It seemed every weed pulled revealed six more.  At that rate I would have been buried under a mountain of dandelions, chickweed, and poison ivy in about twenty minutes.  I had the thought:  Is this a joke these vicious, worthless weeds are playing on me?  Then I realized, it was April 1^st…and I was the weed-pulling fool!  It’s appropriate – the weeds in my yard don’t fool around; they’re deadly-serious about burying me and everything else on my little ½ acre!

For the rest of the afternoon I thought seriously about the mustard seed Jesus used as an illustration of the Kingdom of Heaven.  When kingdom seed is planted here on planet Earth, it grows like the mustard bush, overwhelmingly fast, and beyond expectation.  Jesus called it a “tree,” big enough for birds to nest on the branches.  In fact it is considered a bush, a big one, sometimes reaching twenty feet high.  It’s a bush that grows big enough to act like a shade tree.  It is also not a bush many of Jesus’ contemporaries would plant; it’s a nuisance.

Such is the thinking of Jeremiah Damir Bašurić, a Reformed Church minister who tells the story of The Mustard Seed ministry of Alberta, Canada.  He calls it a ministry of Mustard Weed[1], begun by a youth group in the basement of their suburban church.  The ministry meets the needs of the homeless and marginalized of their city.  The members of this more than 100-year-old church fled from the city to the suburbs, escaping the presence of these unwanted nesters who came into their building from the cold.  But the rebellious youth group began acting like the image of God they’d seen in Scripture and built a makeshift shelter in the new church building, and secretly brought in those in need.  These days this makeshift helping seed has grown into a huge tree for the nesters, with a staff of directors, managers, and many more who feed Alberta’s needy.

Beside the phenomenal growth possibilities of the “mustard weed” how else does this apply to the Kingdom of Heaven? 

The mustard tree was potentially a noxious weed, which could take over your garden and crops. At the time, there were even laws prohibiting planting mustard trees by certain crops because of its threat to other plants.  It would be like Jesus coming today and saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like a dandelion! Even though it is a small seed, it spreads an unstoppable plague across cities.’ Or the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pothole, or a gopher, a pimple, used needles in your lawn. The Kingdom of Heaven is here, but it is more like a weed and pest than a towering tree. To make things even more complicated. Jesus adds that birds will come and perch in its branches. Gardeners and farmers also did not want these pests indulging in their garden. Not only is the Kingdom of Heaven like a weed, it attracts unwanted birds which will further destroy your fields and economic livelihoods![2]

Now we’re getting somewhere.  The mustard tree is a noxious weed, growing like weeds do…burying unsuspecting respectable preachers in their back yard when given a chance, like potholes destroy Cadillacs and Mercedes, or gophers destroy lawns, or pimples destroy your chance at becoming a super model.  And who wants the street people nesting in the branches of your well-cared for church? 

Pests in the garden…a communal problem getting in the way of our economic stability and comfortable worship.  And mustard weed believers are just like ‘em.

A Providence-Dependent Faith

Mustard-weed believers have a faith that can move anything because it is Provident-Dependent.  Like seeds of the mustard bush depend upon the ground’s nutrients, rain from above, and the design of God in their DNA, mustard-weed believers live life in the expectancy of God's provision rather than being self-sufficient.  Salvation comes that way - by grace.  There's no reason to believe that it’s not expected by God that we continue our life in Christ like the seed planted. 

Faith depends on God, unbelief leans on self.  We are often like the man who got a new hunting dog, and wanted him to track a bear that was terrorizing the countryside.  No sooner had they gotten into the woods than the dog picked up the scent; but in a moment he caught the scent of a deer, and headed off in a new direction.  A few minutes later he switched to the trail of a rabbit that had crossed the deer trail.  And so on...until finally the hunter caught up with his new dog, barking triumphantly at a field mouse he'd cornered in a stump.  We start out dependent on Christ for everything, moving towards glorious service in the kingdom, and wind up far from faith, leaning on our own understanding.  Jesus said the mountain would jump if you had just the tiniest bit of faith.  He meant faith in God, not yourself, and unquestionably-not faith in having faith!

What is it like to have faith in God?  It is living what the senses cannot see.  One commentator said it this way: If you don't live it, you don't believe it.  A corollary truth is:  If you don't live it, what's the point of believing it?  Faith without works is dead!  Faith, that has no daily application in my life is worthless.  Preacher Harry Ironside told of a Christian widow in Scotland.  It was extremely difficult for her to provide food for her little family, but she trusted the Lord and taught her children how to put their faith in Him. 

One day came when the purse was empty, and the pantry bare.  Like the widow of Zaraphath[3], who had only a handful of flour remaining in the big barrel to stand against she and her son starving, this faithful mother reached into the container to scoop-up the last bit to make some bread for the hungry children.  As she bent over the barrel, she couldn't hold back the tears anymore; her faith was gone.  Her small son heard her sobs, and ran to her.  Mother, what are ye weepin' about?  Dinna God hear ye scrapin' the bottom of the barrel?  Faith lives what senses can never see.

Faith oftentimes means a change in plans. 

The disciples could not accept Jesus' plans.  They did what you and I do, clinging to our plans and desires like Jesus can't possibly know what we need, or what's best for us.

As children bring their broken toys with tears for us to mend,

I brought my broken dreams to God because He was my friend.

But then, instead of leaving Him in peace, to work alone,

I hung around and tried to help in ways that were my own.

Finally I took them back and said, Dear God, why are you so slow?

My child, He said, what could I do?  You never did let go.'"

I must admit that I have had my plans changed so many times I should know much better than to hold things tightly.  I learned it hurts when God either pries my fingers loose, or He allows me to plunge headfirst into the disasters I stir up.  I’ve gotten much older, and just a little wiser, and I'm learning to let go more.  God understands my need and the future; why shouldn't I trust Him with it?

The artist, Raphael's painting of The Transfiguration pictures the whole of this account.  Up above, Christ is hovering in glory, accompanied by Peter, James, and John.  Down below, in the same picture, the father holds his frantic, tortured child.  The helpless disciples are looking, in despair, at the struggle which they are not able to calm.  Divine strength above, feeble human confusion below.  What keeps the whole scene from being our worst nightmare is that the poor, confused disciples in the foreground are pointing the distressed parents of the child up to the mountain where Christ is seen.   

What direction are you pointing in?  Faith is not some system of magic words, said in the right atmosphere, in just the right way....that will somehow motivate God to do just what you want Him to do.  Rather, it is that link, that upward look, by which our vital connection with Him allows us to see the kingdom, and His purposes.  If you want comfortable faith that requires no changes, no trust outside what you can see and feel, no discomfort, or possibility of pain and loss, a faith that moves nothing, simply do nothing – but expect nothing also!

But if you would have faith that moves anything, depend on Jesus, fellowship with Jesus, trust Jesus.  The mountains of your problems may be big....but the promise is that faith in Jesus will dump them into the sea!

Mustard-weed faith that can move anything is sometimes found in the strangest, most unexpected places. 

A bishop in the late 19^th century, paid a visit to a small college, where he had dinner with the president of that school. 

The bishop remarked that he thought the millennium was close, since everything about nature had been discovered, and all possible inventions made.  But the college president  disagreed, stating that he felt the next fifty years would bring amazing discoveries and inventions.  Human beings would be flying through the skies like birds.  Nonsense! shouted the bishop.  Flight is reserved for angels!   The bishop's name was Wright.  He had two sons, Orville, and Wilbur.

Fortunately for mankind, the sons had a perseverant faith in what they could accomplish.

What is there that prevents you from wanting, and having that kind of faith?    And what are you willing to surrender to God to get there?

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen!  

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[1] Read the article:  The Mustard Weed

[2] Ibid.

[3] Read 1 Kings 17:8-24

 

The Kingdom is Like...

 

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?  How can I illustrate it?  It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.”  He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like?  It 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.”                           Luke 13:18-21

Speaking in parables (metaphorical messages) Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to the way God created the tendency to grow in the natural world.  Mustard seeds are tiny; they quickly grow into a tree big enough for a bird to build its nest.  Yeast causes growth to a little pile of dough. 

But wherever God has created good, evil is certain to twist in the opposite direction.  When we moved to North Carolina 22 years ago our little ½ acre was mostly untamed, with large trees – mostly pines, cedars, and poplar.  Some of the trees were already dead; wild vines had wrapped the living trees when they were smaller and sucked the life out of them.  They looked impressive, tall, and stately but they were rotted, ready to fall.

This is Satan’s characteristic stock-in-trade; it is his unchanging nature to deceive and pervert.  Satan made his entrance on the stage of world drama by deceiving Eve in the garden; that serpent has never/will never change. 

Scripture tells us he will pay the ultimate penalty for his rebellion:

This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.  Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last—salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.  For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night.  Revelation 12:9-10

In other parables Jesus taught us about life, death, and learning to live a Godly life in His kingdom.  That living must continually be awake and aware, because every good thing God created has an evil counterfeit-lure stalking us in the shadows.  This is why, with all the wonderful teaching Jesus offered of the good things in God’s wonderful creation, He balanced the picture with reality-101 – the caution we must have about the pitfalls of temptation, sin, and the Devil’s way:

Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves.  So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.  Matthew 10:16

For You Today

There’s an old saying about how to be wise in dealing with others:

Trust, but Verify

As believers, we are to trust God, and test the spirits[1].  We must heed the lesson Adam and Eve were handed…Satan NEVER tells the truth!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!  

[1] Title image: Wikimedia Commons   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©   

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[1] See 1 John 4:1

As Long As Life Lasts

[1]

Monday, October 22, 2018

When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing.  But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless.  The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.  Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you.  We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation.  For God is not unjust.  He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.  Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.  Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent.   Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.  Hebrews 6:7-12(NLT)

Sometimes, in the mornings when bones and joints creak out their complaints about getting up too early, or stiff muscles shout their disapproval over another long night in the bed…when aches and pains call out for their fair share of your attention … like 150% of everything you’ve got … thoughts turn to asking oneself just why you still push to answer the call.  Why not just take it easy?  Why not let someone else have it?

I always hated when the conversation turned to the obvious age-related topic, that (barring life getting cut short by violence or something like an incurable tumor), we all get old, lose strength and must depend on others.  But like it or not, I’m there.  I’m in the eighth decade of life, and just thinking about those dozen bushes I bought yesterday to plant in my yard makes my aching back want to call the elder abuse hotline! 

What was I thinking?

And then, thanks to the Apostle Paul, I read something like today’s passage in Hebrews early in the morning.  Suddenly, although the ache in my back from too many yesterdays is still speaking loudly, it changes from a cry to pull the plug, retire, and live out my days with ease, to a reminder that spiritual dullness and indifference are the weeds that must be addressed if life’s race is to be finished well.

Paul said his greatest desire was that his Hebrew brothers and sisters would go on loving others as long as life lasts.  That, for me, means there is something much more important to do with this life than take a nap.  Now, don’t get me wrong, naps are great.  In fact, I’m a firm subscriber to the principle, and practice, that sometimes a good nap can put many of life’s difficulties in proper perspective.  Naps are calming, restorative and probably as necessary as regular breathing, diet, exercise and prayer.  They just aren’t the main focus of life.  They are an aid in maintaining the real focus which is helping others as long as life lasts.  This is the better things Paul ascribed to his Hebrew family; he knew they were destined for a well-deserved reputation of being God’s hands of mercy and lovingkindness in a very needy world.

So, here I am, a cup of coffee and two arthritis pain-relief tablets later, coming to the end of today’s devotion, trying to make sense out of how I can help somebody today.  And this is where the choice between a fruitful life’s garden or a lot full of weeds and thorns is made.  The list of ailments and losses is still there, growing every day; so are the opportunities to make a difference loving those God has placed in my pathway.

For You Today

Crop of weeds or fruit … it’s a choice every moment of every day, as long as life lasts!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

Go to VIDEO

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[1] Title Image: Courtesy of Pixabay.com

In the Devil's Millhopper

[1]

Monday, April 11, 2016

Go to VIDEO

Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?
Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!  Turn away from evil and do good.  Search for peace, and work to maintain it.  The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.  But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.   
Psalm 34:12-16^(NLT)

Today’s Psalm reminded me of a place a mile or so from our home in Gainesville, Florida in the mid-1980’s – The Devil’s Millhopper.

“Devil's Millhopper is a National Natural Landmark that has been visited by the curious since the early 1880s.  Researchers have learned a great deal about Florida's natural history by studying fossil shark teeth, marine shells and the fossilized remains of extinct land animals found in the sink.  The sinkhole is 120 feet deep and 500 feet across.  A one-half mile nature trail follows the rim, and there is a 232-step stairway to the bottom of the sink.”[2]

Because it is a State Park, the admission is very reasonable, so the preacher’s family found themselves taking advantage of the place.  As you’re descending those 232 steps to the bottom of this impressive hole in the ground, there is life you cannot see.  The walls are primarily very hard limestone, whose surface is not conducive to the growth of vegetation.  However, tiny spores called “liverworts” which look like moss, take hold.

I am convinced that our life’s inner walls produce a spiritual kind of liverwort during those dry spells of our devotional lives.  Like the Millhopper’s walls in Florida’s hot climate, our souls are a host to growth of all kinds; we are spiritually “hard-wired” to learn, adapt and flourish.  But just as the ground can sprout weeds in un-tended soil, so our souls can sprout a devilish mess when we don’t work at maintaining peace.

In our daily lives we all have dry spells of dimming spiritual awareness; we hardly realize that what is being created is a perfect atmosphere for the liverworts of sin to gain a foothold.  And as they grow they produce the larger consequences of sin which can flourish and blossom into fully-mature apostasy.

This is why there are so many cautions in Scripture to be diligent in the quiet, dry times.  It is then the liverworts of sin can begin their ugly work on your soul.

The Psalmist warns us to guard our tongues, turn away from evil – both defensive measures…cleaning out the liverworts of sin’s foothold. 

But he also warns to move offensively, or in a positive step towards doing good.  And, like laughter is a wonderful medicine for the soul, good deeds and healthy Christian relationships with other followers of Jesus is the best kind of antibiotic against spores of sin that want to get started.

For You Today

I was once told that there is nothing better for keeping weeds out of your lawn than making the grass strong and healthy – it will crowd out weeds! 

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road today…and have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image:  By Ken Watford (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

[2] Florida State Parks website

Omnipresent

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  Isaiah 55:6-7 (NRSV)

We are using the farming metaphor this week to explore Isaiah 55.  And it is impossible to explore that passage without bumping into the “O” words.  (I’m not talking about Obama Care here).

The first of these words is “Omnipresent,” everywhere at once.  Isaiah wisely advises us to Seek the LORD while he may be found…while he is near.  This sounds like the opposite of everywhere at once, but it speaks more about opportunity than location.  We should seek God while there is time, and He chooses to be available!  In other places of his prophecy Isaiah makes the concept of omnipresence clear:

Thus says the LORD: 

Heaven is my throne

and the earth is my footstool; 

what is the house that you would build for me, 

and what is my resting place?                  

Isaiah 66:1 (NRSV)

The Psalmist tells us God will be everywhere we can imagine:

Where can I go from your spirit?  Or where can I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there; 

if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. Psalms 139:7-8 (NRSV)

In keeping with the farming metaphor, omnipresence brings to my mind the idea of weeds; they’re seemingly everywhere!  But that’s often the problem with our relationship with God – we see the weeds first.

Look at this box and tell me what you see…

You see a black dot, don’t you?  But yet, by volume, there is far more white space surrounding that dot; it’s like that with weeds.  I’ve got a lawn that is mostly grass, but sometimes all I can see is the weeds.  Any grass (sod) farmer will tell you that the best cure for weeds in your grass lawn is good, healthy grass.  Grow the grass and it will crowd out the weeds.

In our relationship with God the idea of good growth of the healthy practices of prayer, worship, Bible study, fellowship with believers and service/witness are vital.  The weeds of sin will proliferate in any untended garden…you can mark that down!

Today…for you

How’s your garden coming along?  You’ve made a good start today just reading this devotionally. 

Now, go deeper…stop wailing over how big the weeds (of sin) are, and how hard it is to stop them. 

Go on and water the grass (personal worship), 

check the ph (prayer), 

put in some fertilizer (fellowship with believers)

….and watch the weeds die!