Luk 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

A mustard seed has a diameter of approximately 1 millimetre. The mustard seed grows into a mustard tree which can become 3 meters high, therefore 3000 times larger than the mustard seed.

What does Jesus want to tell us? Jesus wants to show us that God can make small things very large. A seed is small but from that small little seed can emerge an enormous tree. The kingdom of God would begin very small, just as a mustard seed. But it will expand and cover the world.

What is the lesson for us? God can work big things from the smallest of starts. The lesson is for every one of us: You don’t have to be a somebody to serve in God’s kingdom. Jesus said: “He that is least among you all, the same shall be great” (Luke 9:48).

One does not have to be great to do great things. God can use the most insignificant person in the world to do great things. It is up to that person whether he wants to avail himself for God’s service.

There are people who can do but they are unwilling to serve in the kingdom of God, and so they make themselves unavailable for God’s service. And there are those who may not be qualified by any human standard but they are willing and they make themselves available. They may not be doing great at the beginning, but they learn and they become better each day. Experts started by becoming apprentices first.

Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:20, 21: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”

You may not be a precious jewel in the eyes of man. But God can turn you around. The choice is up to you. Notice these four words, “If a man therefore”. It means any person; anyone who is willing to let Christ mould him is fit for the Master’s use.

Look at the parable again. The mustard seed is useless if it lies dead on the ground; it will forever remain a seed. But Christ said “it grew”. That growth causes a change, a big change in fact.

Growth is important. Peter wrote: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). A growing faith is the reason a Christian is serving God. Our faith, when matured, allows us to do many things for the Lord. In fact, it would be easier for us to trust and obey God as compared to when we were young in Him and unsure of what He has equipped us to do.

The Bible mentions a group of Christians who were not useful in God’s kingdom because they were not growing: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Hebrews 5:12). Sad, isn’t it?

What about you? Are you growing in your faith? Will you allow God to use you in His kingdom? The choice is yours? Will you avail yourself to serving Him? Do you believe that God can work great things through you? Think about it: Paul became a missionary to the Gentiles even if he considers himself "the least among many" (Ephesians 3:8). Peter was a simple fisherman who led the early church. They didn’t give excuses. They simply obeyed God. They simply let go and let God. You can do the same too: Let go of your selfishness and let God use you. Grow!

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.