For years I’ve begged my
husband to bring me mustard seeds, eager to lay eyes on the tiniest
seeds a
Palestinian farmer would have grown in his day. A week ago this precious gift
became mine. He was helping a friend load his mustard crop and brought me a
handful of tiny black seeds. I touched them with reverence, the parable of our
Lord Jesus filling my spirit and swelling my heart.
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| Black mustard seeds grown in Canada |
There are different kinds
of mustard seeds. The most common type in Canada is the yellow seeds that produce the typical
mustard found in fast food chains. But it’s the black mustard seeds that the
people of my ancestral roots, India, love, and the kind our friend had grown
for export. The black seeds are the most flavourful, sharp, the zestiest
of all mustard seeds. From it mustard oil is extracted, a strong-tasting oil
erring on the spicy side which I’ve purchased for pickled condiments. Black
mustard seeds looks strikingly like Canola seeds until one chews them and
discovers the tanginess. (Interestingly, Canola belongs to the mustard family.)
By using the miniscule mustard seed to illustrate His point, Jesus is speaking metaphorically about the unforeseen power of God that can be demonstrated in the lives of believers with true faith. The disciples had the authority, the head knowledge, but missed the heart knowledge that the miracle that Jesus performed could have been done through them. They lacked faith.
A light bulb rated at 60 watts means that it draw 60 watts from a generator
to produce the light. Likewise, a 100-watt bulb will draw 100 watts to produce
the light. The intensity of light produced is directly related to the number of
watts. Just as it is impossible to activate electric light
without plugging it into a source so it is impossible to please God without faith
(Hebrews 11:6). Faith, like electricity, is intangible power.
Jesus was in the habit of
using everyday items to explain the truths of the Kingdom of Heaven, so His
object lesson on faith was one that his listeners were familiar with – a
mustard seed.
In Matthew 17:20 he said
to His disciples, “… for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to
there,’ and it will move; and nothing
will be impossible to you” (NASB).
Jesus is speaking
symbolically when He refers to moving mountains. Rather than uprooting trees
and stone, He is emphasizing the nature of faith, that a tiny amount of faith
will produce great results. That little is much when it comes to God.
The Canadian Grain
Commission measures the diameter of the mustard seed as 2mm or less. So, how
does 2 mm-sized faith, mustard seed-sized faith play out in our lives?
When I sit on a chair at my dining table I exercise 100% faith that it will bear my weight and I’ll remain stable. On the other hand, when I tiptoe on my icy steps, I have much less faith that I would remain stable.
Below are a few examples of mustard seed faith in my life:
- I keep lifting some needs over and over to God – mustard seed faith. 100% faith that He will do as He wills.
SUSAN HARRIS is a speaker and the author
of 12 books. She exercises simple faith, mustard seed faith in God.
www.susanharris.ca
4 comments:
Thank you, Susan, for sharing these insights on biblical faith from your experience. I think that the examples you give of your exercising 100% faith offer an encouraging and helpful approach to praying in faith and trusting God and His wisdom, in accordance with His will. ~~+~~
Thanks for your encouragement, Peter. I've experienced instant healings and I've taken meds other conditions and I deem each accompanied by mustard seed faith because I believed God. And it is His will that determines the outcome as you point out.
Love this, Susan. And particularly, do I appreciate your visuals! So comforting and encouraging when I look upon the smallness of the mustard seed then think about the magnitude of God's amazing grace.
Great illustration, Susan. Thank you for sharing and showing information about the mustard seed. I want to grasp this same type of faith.
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