The Mustard Seed

There are many references of the mustard seed in the Bible. It's significance is so mighty in many different ways.

You see, one itty bitty, teeny tiny mustard seed is smaller than one single grain of rice, but when it's planted, the mustard plant overtakes everything around it. Let that sink in a little bit. It can actually grow up to 12 feet tall, creating shade like a tree. It's also rich in minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and selenium, which are important for bone health and other bodily functions. It is also known for its pungency.

And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you." - Luke 17:6

The definition of faith, according to dictionary.com is complete trust or confidence in someone or something; strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof. We believe that God is the creator of the universe and that He sent His one and only son, Jesus, to dwell among us and take on the sins of the world, dying on the cross making a final way for us to be reconciled with Him, and His Spirit coming down to dwell within us. Our faith in Him, even a small amount, grows within us and takes over everything, like a mustard seed.

He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." - Matthew 17:20

What could this look like? I know for me, this has been work over many years. What isn't lost on me is that God has been so patient with me. This has been so subtle, the time with Him, in His Word, resting in Him, it's all been part of the growth that has happened in my life. I didn't just wake up one day and have it. Wouldn't that be nice though?

As I've been reflecting, my small amount of faith planted decades ago has continued to grow and has taken over worldly areas of my life, even the ones that I didn't think were "issues". Spending time with God daily, in His Word, through prayer (cultivating the seed) has allowed it to keep growing into something so much bigger. It's not only producing health inside of me through the Lord but it's also detected (pungent) by those I'm around, even if I don't say anything about it. It's evident by the way I live life today. Now, I boldly expect God to do miraculous things and show up in the most beautiful ways in front of me. Nothing is impossible for Him and He dwells within me. Audacious, I know. How often do we forget or not believe this? I dare you, my sweet friend, to give Him the boldest prayer and see what He does with your little faith.

The other reference that is spoken in the Bible around the mustard seed is the kingdom of God. There is the Parable of the Mustard Seed found in the Gospels. I love them all but in Mark 4 it is more elaborated on.

And He said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when down on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that birds of the air can make nests in it's shade." - Mark 4:30-32

What a vision! It starts humble and small initially, seeming insignificant, but it eventually grows in such dynamic ways and is great, making shelter for many. As I researched this parable, I found that it would've been surprising to the original audience, as mustard plants were often seen as weeds rather than garden plants, they were known to be difficult to control. It also magnifies that the kingdom of God doesn't arrive with fanfare but grows from something small and often times overlooked. I don't know about you, but I love these nuggets. How true is that, even in the world we live in today? Amazing!

How mighty is the mustard seed? Let's keep this close to our hearts. Be encouraged that God uses something so small to do something so grand. How great is our God!