Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
June 10, 2023
Matthew 13:31-35
31 He told another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his field. 32 It’s the smallest of all seeds. But when it’s grown, it’s the largest of all vegetable plants. It becomes a tree so that the birds in the sky come and nest in its branches.” 33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in a bushel of wheat flour until the yeast had worked its way through all the dough.” 34 Jesus said all these things to the crowds in parables, and he spoke to them only in parables. 35 This was to fulfill what the prophet spoke: I’ll speak in parables; I’ll declare what has been hidden since the beginning of the world.
Good Morning, It is a beautiful day to praise God!
Interestingly, the bigger or louder something/someone is, the more we pay attention to it/them. As a student and teacher, I have been assigned to work with a group to complete a project. You often have someone in the group ready to take charge and give the group direction. The other group members are usually happy to let someone else be the leader because that means they can sit, follow, and do the minimum required of them.
Sometimes you have two “alpha dogs” who want to fight for control, and that makes for a challenging group project because often, at the end of the time allotted, they are still working on getting the group to follow them. Finally, there are groups where no one steps up to take charge. If they share ideas, they can succeed, but getting anyone to get the ball rolling is tough.
A good leader can see and involve all its members, even those who seem small and insignificant. I have seen the best ideas immerge from a quiet team member. When nurtured by a loving spirit, Jesus understands that strength and courage can grow from among the smallest contributors.
Through today’s parables, we are reminded that all have value. Even the tiniest seed grows a great plant, and a small amount of yeast can give the power to increase exponentially. By the grace of God, we, ordinary broken people, will inherit the kingdom of God. Among the seemingly insignificant, great potential is just waiting to be revealed. God uses the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary.
Incredible God, We thank you for Your blessings. We get distracted by the biggest and the loudest. Help us look for what lies within the meek and quiet. We Thank You! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: I may be small, but not insignificant.
Look within for great strength! Pastor Liz
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