Luke 13:18-21 — It's that (y)eas(t)y!

READ THIS: Luke 13:18-21

18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” 20 Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

Do you know what a mustard seed and yeast have in common? They're both tiny little things that end up having a bigger result than you think is possible. A mustard seed is one of the smallest of seeds, and it grows into a shrub, but if it's taken care of well in the right conditions, that shrub resembles a big, sprawling tree! Yeast is tiny; you only need a little bit to put in your flour. Just a tiny bit of yeast makes an entire loaf of bread rise, even 60 pounds of it!

For both the mustard seed and the yeast, though, there needs to be work done. A man and a woman in both similes took time to make sure the seed and the yeast would work in the way they intended. The Kingdom of God is taken care of by God, with work and intention. God starts off with something small, whether it's two people in a garden or a tiny baby in a manger, but has massive results, like a world filled with nearly 8 billion people or a savior who offers eternal life to all who believe. 

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. In what ways have you seen something small that God did through you/someone else turn into something that had massive results?

2. Where do you see God putting in the work in your life? Where is He planting and mixing around you?

TRY THIS:

Look around you right now and find the smallest object you own. Put it in your pocket today as a reminder to be on the lookout for the small things God might be doing (...because those small things, with care and intention, can lead to something massive!)

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