Hungry for God: The Capacity for Audacity

“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 sown 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 the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’”

—Mark 4:30-32

The claims of Christ were and are audacious. He claimed to forgive sin, to have existed before time began, and the ultimate claim was that He Himself was God. He also made some prophetic statements that are quite extraordinary. He claimed that God’s kingdom would begin small (like a mustard seed) but then experience unbelievable growth (become larger than all the garden plants) and those who encounter God’s kingdom would greatly benefit from it (so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade). It was a bold claim if you think about it, but one not lost on His listeners. They knew that a mustard seed was small and they knew how big it could get, but for us, who live in the 21st century, the meaning is there, but the wonder of it is not.

Jesus came humbly, as a Jewish carpenter, living at a certain point in time, bound to dirt roads of this earth, and relegated to space and time. He came as a servant to give His life as a ransom for many, but there were a great number of people who failed to recognize Him. Indeed, there will be many more who fail to recognize Him than there will be those who recognize Him and give their life to follow Him. We know the cost of following Him; we have seen that borne out in our families, with our friends, and co-workers. We know that following Christ earns a great deal of flack, frustration, trouble, tribulation, pain, and a host of problems, but as we stand fast for Him, His kingdom will continue to grow, His purposes will be accomplished, and we will be vindicated for all that we have endured.

Take time today to thank the Lord for everything He has done for you, what He is doing in you, and what He's already doing and will be doing through you, as He grows His kingdom, for His glory and your joy. Amen.