One Single Seed
Scripture Reading — Luke 13:18-19
The kingdom of God . . . is like a mustard seed. . . . It grew and became a tree.
Each year the Cable News Network (CNN) selects ten individuals who have made a big difference in the lives of other people. Out of those ten CNN Heroes, the network chooses one person who in their opinion has made the greatest impact. In 2015, the person chosen was a 21-year-old woman who, after graduating from college, decided to live in Nepal. She started a home for young girls who had been abandoned and abused and had no place to go. Seeing the faces of those young girls was a living testimony to what one person can accomplish.
Watching that story made me think of the parable of the mustard seed. According to the Lord Jesus, God’s kingdom here on earth is like a mustard seed, which starts out very small and can grow into a tree.
Sometimes our efforts seem so small and insignificant. What good is one prison visit, and what can an occasional Bible study at a rescue mission possibly accomplish? What good is one card or email sent to someone who’s hurting? What good is that small church compared to that megachurch down the street?
Reread today’s parable and be assured that the Lord Jesus can turn even our smallest efforts into something great for his kingdom! As someone put it, “Of course you can’t do everything, but you can do something!”
Father in heaven, help us to see that you will use even our smallest efforts to build your kingdom. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
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