Small Mustard Seed

No long paragraphs or motivational speeches. I just have 2 verses I want you to read; think hard about what they say and if they are being practiced in the church today. Don't think about "guilt" or the "I should's" but think about what a great opportunity we have to change the world around us through the actions we need to be taking. Say what you want, but Jesus really was the perfect example of love and compassion - just as are commanded to be to the world today.

"Do not withold good from those to whom it is due when it is in the power of your hand to do so."

Proverbs 3:27

Matthew 5:38-42

For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

1 Timothy 4:8

I've been encouraged to think about what we have in Christ. Of course, I first think of all the Sunday School answers: salvation, forgiveness, relationship with God. But this week I caught a glimpse of a few other things I had never really given any thought to.

In 1 Timothy 4, Paul is writing to Timothy and explaining some issues that were sure to become bigger issues. Speaking of people creating false doctrines and being deceived by other spirits into denying things that need not be denied - such as marriage and abstaining from certain foods. (No worries, I'm not going to preach about not eating fast food or celibacy). He tells Timothy not to listen to these wives' tales but to seek out godliness since he knows the promise of the Lord.

So what is this promise? Once again, our minds fill with all the typical answers of eternal life and salvation, but there are a couple other things we usually leave out that I've found to be of great encouragement and help me to continue in diligence. Take a look at the following verses.

Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

1 Corinthians 3:8

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24

The verse in 1 Corinthians goes on to describe how the things we do while alive on earth will be tested with fire and that we will receive reward for the things that endure and have eternal value. Likewise, Paul encourages us in Colossians to work with a glad heart as if we were working for Christ because we know that He will reward us in Heaven. All through the gospels Jesus teaches of our heavenly reward for withstanding evil and reviling, for knowing Him and living in the truth. This isn't to say "do good because God will reward you." I am encouraging you to endure with perserverance. Continue in faith, having confidence in God's reward and let that bring you hope. We can firmly trust in God's provision here on earth for seeking Him (Matthew 7:7-12) but we can also trust in God's reward for enduring to the end!

We cannot put our hope in objects or in this world. And we are not to wish for perishing things the world treasures. Our heart has to be led by what the Father promises.

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 23:17-18

Also, in Matthew 6:1-4 and 6:16-21 Jesus teaches of the good works we are to do on earth. Working in secret, trusting that our humility and service will be seen and rewarded openly by our heavenly Father.

Read Romans 5:1-11 today. It's not that long, but gosh, there is such truth spoken there. All of Romans has great doctrine and incredible promise, but the beginning of Romans 5 speaks of all the things we can hope for in Christ; the work of the Spirit in us, access to God, justification and eternal life... the list goes on. It really is a chapter that will remind you of the life God desires for us and inspires you to place your trust in His promises. There is so much more that God has in store for us than just eternal life. Think about His promise and take notice of what great reward we have in seeking His will for our lives. You will not read your bible for very long without seeing that we are blessed with grace and abundance, both on earth and eternally, when following Him.

John 10:10b

Here are some more references to see God's promise and some of the things God gives to us. (I'll be adding more as I find them... keep checking this week to really become full of God's promises).

Romans 8:15, 2 Timothy 1:7, John14:12-14, Luke 6:35, 2 John 1:8

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28

I often hear this verse being so misused. People will recite just the first part of thise verse to unbelievers during difficult times, trying to reassure them that everything will be okay. But this is not the truth. This verse was not given to people apart from Christ. In fact, this verse is only the beginning of expressing a greater meaning of being a participant in God's kingdom. Let's read the verse afterwards...

"For him He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many bretheren."

Romans 8:29

In the first verse, Paul is not speaking about a believer's life in general. He isn't saying "Don't worry, your life will be fine. Everything will come together in the end to give you a nice and happy life." In fact, Paul is saying that all events in our life work together to fulfill God's purpose for us. When we read on to Romans 8:29, we find that this purpose is to be conformed into the image of Christ.

Jesus knew God's will for His life. He understood the sacrifice that would be required and God's Spirit showed Him what that would mean for the rest of us in eternity. Along these same lines Romans 12:2 tells us that we must not be conformed to the world, but transformed that we may understand God's purpose into making us like Christ. Not just so we can tell good from bad or right from wrong. This renewing of our minds will enable us to continue in God's will and give us strength to stand against the world and pursue our eternal purpose - being like Christ.

"For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

Romans 8:6

In all of these, Paul is teaching us that resting in what the Lord desires and has intended for us we find fulfillment, order and a life of peace. We are to be mindful of God's work in our lives knowing that understanding His will for us will pull us through times of difficulty and testing. Again, in Romans 12:2 we are told that our transformation will lead us into proving and testing what is God's will. Not observing or thinking about, but being put through circumstances where we can know what God desires of us. James 1 is a great chapter to read and be encouraged through these times of testing.

What I see in all these verses is that our life doesn't work together for our "goals" to be accomplished or for our personal lives to feel fulfilled. Our lives and circumstances work together for us to become more like Jesus - to overcome temptation and be transformed into the eternal beings God has intended for us. And when we view our trials and stuggles in light of God's plan we aren't discouraged from serving out of duty, but we can be filled with joy by knowing His great plan is accomplished through us.

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

James 1:12

"For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father, but is of the world."

1 John 2:16

My BSF lesson led me to an interesting train of thought this week. We were asked to read this verse in the light of Christ's temptation in the desert found in 3 of the gospels. I was quite surprised to see that Satan used these three same methods of temptation to try and get Jesus to stumble. I was also very surprised to read this in Genesis...

"So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that is was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate."

Genesis 3:16

It really made me think about what drives us to make choices leading us into sin and further away from the Lord. We steal either to meet our physical needs or because we see something and desire it. We make moral and ethical exceptions to gain fame or to make a name for ourselves. Pretty much all I've done in my life has come down to these three things - wanting to meet my physical needs, wanting what I see because it is pleasing to my eyes and wanting to be someone important and special.

I'm so glad I had the chance to work on this study this week. Knowing that this method of temptation has been part of human nature from the beginning of time gives me a bit of relief. Sure, I still know that my heart naturally desires these earthly things, but this gives me the knowledge needed to spot temptation before I get myself into a hole of sin and repercussions. We can fully trust God to meet our physical needs despite our circumstances (Matthew 6:25-26). And taking what is pleasant to the eyes does not fulfill our hearts the way we imagine it would (Ecclesiastes 4:8). Of course, we all know that pride comes before a great fall (Proverbs 11:2.)

What actions do we take that are truly seperate from these selfish desires? I know I cannot name many, but I really do desire to have God say "Well done, good and faithfull servant." I am thankful for the Holy Spirit's work in making these verses so relevant to my life - I can only hope and pray that this will also encourage you to see where Satan is guiding you by your flesh and that you would find strength in His Word and Spirit to resist and find peace.

"And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; And the grace of God was upon Him."

Luke 2:40

It's so funny for me to think of Jesus as a little kid. I wonder what He thought and what it was like for His parents. I imagine it would require so much humbleness and grace to see the Lord grow up in the wisdom of God as a young child. I usually assume that He just knew He was God's and therefore it was easy to be perfect; but after reading some verses in Hebrews and 1 Peter, I now wonder how trying his young life was.

For me, just being involved in AWANA got me put on the "loser list" in grade school. Listening to Christian music and being friends with unpopular kids was what I thought was good but also what the cool girls rejected me for. Don't you ever wonder what it was like for Jesus to play with other children? Maybe He had just one good friend, maybe He had none. I really shouldn't assume that He was Mr. Popular since He was perfect and good, but isn't that the path our mind naturally goes down? Jesus was our Savior whom we glorify and while we know He did suffer, we don't really consider those years of difficulty before He was traveling and performing miracles.

The verse above speaks of the spiritual fruit which Christ "grew" during the years before His public ministry began, but we often forget what things we must endure to become a person who is wise and filled with grace.

"Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered."

Hebrews 5:8

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

1 Peter 1:6-7

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

James 1:2-4

"Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His bretheren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted."

Hebrews 2:17-18

Only by wisdom and trials are we able to understand the grace of God and have the faith required to show God's love to the world. I wish I could find every verse in the bible that speaks of the great things that trials and suffering produce in us - but we know these times have a purpose and make us more able to trust the Lord in the future. Through these tribulations, we can see the futility of the decaying world and the great relief of God's salvation. Hebrews 11 lists many men and women in the history of the Jewish people who had great hope for God's Kingdom though they never saw it come to fruition here on earth. They saw the great promise of God and were able to endure great trials and act in faith when God called them.

Studying all these verses in my BSF lesson this week gave me more Hope for my life. Seeing how Jesus waited patiently until His purpose in life would come to pass makes me realize how not patient I am. I desire God to use me for great things, yet I freak out when times are tough! I ask God to make my faith stronger but cry on my pillow when my life apporaches possible disaster. I think all Christians wish their life would be counted for something great but are we willing to endure the tribulation that needs to come first? We need to be tested and come throught proving ourselves faithful to God's promise despite our circumstances. Being faithful to His will ALWAYS brings us a more fulfilling relationship with Him even if we have to endure the worst of life to get there. For God's work will be completed in our lives if we continue following Him in faith - we will not be disappointed with the fulfillment of His work in our lives.

"being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Philippians 1:6

"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him."

Psalm 91:14-15

I often forget exactly how "in control" God is over the events of my life. It's kind of frightening how God can see not only everything I do, but everything I think and all my motivations. The idea that no event or circumstance has escaped Him reminds me of how small I really am. And yet, I also realize what power there is in being a child of His.

Lately, when I pray, I have been coming to this new understanding of how little I deserve any of the things I ask for. I think that's something which happens more and more as we get older and grow closer to Him. Yet He will not hesitate to provide for those who ask. Here are a couple verses that are a great reminder of how much He desires to bless us and take care of us.

Matthew 7:8-11

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

There are so many verses that speak of God's ability to provide, His desire that we should all know Him and many more that speak of us only needing to ask in order to receive. I wish I could really make this idea hit home for everyone I meet but I don't know how. I yearn, myself, to have the complete peace in God's provision yet I still worry and attempt to plan my life out in order. I earnestly hope to share with hurting people the abundance of blessing and joy God gives to those who love and praise Him.

I've seen many occasions where God swooped down just in time to provide for my husband and I. Or where He opened a door that gave us opportunity beyond what we had imagined. His hand is always putting the pieces of our life in order whether we notice it or not, but I still wonder, sometimes, whether or not He will want to help me out. I guess, because I know there is nothing in my own ability that can make up for His blessing in my life.

There is no question about it - we do not deserve a bit of what God gives us; both on earth and it eternity. Yet God allows us to experience His grace in ways that are forever changing, and all that He asks is that we know Him and seek after Him. Nothing in my life done of my own desire has been in the LEAST BIT fulfilling. But even the smallest actions taken to learn of Him and to find His will for my life have blessed me beyond my greatest hopes.

I'm not sure how else to put it. I can only encourage you to seek out the Lord and learn about the wonder of His ways. He really does have amazing things in store for His people and it gives Him great pleasure to bless us through His work. There really is nothing better than being blessed for doing something that you already feel blessed just to be doing.