26And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, 27and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." 30And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." 33With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
We do not know how God gives life but if we are alert, we see it. And when we look at the all the choices before us, the one given by God and destined to produce the greatest yield, may not appear to have that potential. The small seed that is given by God cretes the greatest of shrubs with the potential to support the most diverse ecosystems. Once again, the theme is “look for God’s call and walk that path. It will yield the greatest value but to our human perception, that fact may not always be obvious.”
ReplyDeleteYour reflection beautifully captures the mystery and grace of God's work. Mark 4:26-34, with the parables of the growing seed and the mustard seed, emphasizes how God's kingdom grows beyond human understanding and expectation.
DeleteI particularly appreciate your insight that we do not know how God gives life, but if we are alert, we see it. This resonates with Jesus’ teaching that the kingdom of God grows mysteriously—beyond human effort or comprehension—yet its presence is unmistakable for those with eyes to see.
Your connection to discernment is also profound. The idea that the path God calls us to may not appear to have the greatest potential reflects the biblical pattern of God choosing what seems small or insignificant by worldly standards to accomplish great things. The mustard seed, though tiny, becomes a shelter for many, just as God’s seemingly small invitations in our lives can unfold into something vast and life-giving.
Your conclusion, look for God’s call and walk that path, reinforces the need for trust. Human perception often seeks immediate or obvious success, but God’s work requires faith and patience.
Your reflection is both insightful and deeply aligned with Jesus’ message. Would you say this passage also challenges you to trust more fully in God's timing and unseen work?