Written by Mark Driskill:
Read Mark 4:30-34
We need a greater vision for the small things God calls us to do. Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a seed, incredibly small, planted in the soil. Although it starts out so tiny it grows into a large tree in which the birds can nest. Most often when I have reflected on this verse I focus on the seed. Truly amazing it is that something so tiny has such great potential. The lesson is well taken that in the kingdom of God the smallest act of faith has the power to produce much larger results than anticipated. But today let’s consider the birds in the parable. They are the ones who come later to rest in the tree, which grew as a result of the seed having been planted years earlier. They get to build their nests on the branches of the tree. What would the poor birds have done if that seed had not been planted years before? They would have been out of luck when the time came for them to need a place to land. Somebody had to have some vision years before those birds were even hatched and plant a seed, to give the tree time to grow and develop branches, so that the birds would have a place to nest when the time came for their mutual destinies to converge. Only God could know in advance how that tree would be needed in ten or twenty years, and move that farmer to plant the seed. It’s the same way in the kingdom of God.
One day, in the early 1970’s, a Bible School teacher saw a new boy sitting alone in the class. She went over to him and started teaching him the books of the Bible. Before long he was having a great time gluing, cutting paper, and drinking punch. That kid grew up going to that same church where lots of people did small acts of love for him and his family. They were all unknowingly planting seeds in his life. Then in 1981, at the age of 17, he accepted Christ as savior and Lord. He went away to school, got married, and is now preaching the gospel. Over the years he has crossed paths with many who needed a word of hope, or a place to rest. Only God could have known way back in the 1970’s that there would be “birds” looking for branches in another place and time and that somehow that little boy would be able to cross paths with them and hand out a branch of hope just in time. Only God can arrange that. But we have to be willing to plant those small seeds of love that will be there for future generations that only God sees. I’m thankful today for that Sunday school teacher who listened to that still small voice that said, “Hey why don’t you go over there and start talking to that kid in the corner?” What if she had said, “Ooh he looks funny, maybe I’ll talk to someone else.”
Today God will call you to plant tiny seeds of faith in the lives of
people. Keep in mind that way down in the future someone is going to need
a branch of hope to rest on. That branch just may come from a great tree
of faith that sprung from the seed of love that you plant today. Plant
with vision today, because the birds are coming, just over the horizon.
Challenge: Ask God to show you someone today who could use a small act of love today. Pray that God will use it for his kingdom tomorrow.
Mark Driskill and his wife Mary are homeschooling community ministers in Breathitt County Kentucky. They have four children. They co pastor Emmanuel fellowship Church, serve as Camp Pastors at Bethel Mennonite Camp, and Mark Teaches at Oakdale Christian Academy. Mark is web minister for Begotten by the Word , a ministry of Helping Hands Christian Resources. Once a month he preaches on the local radio station through the “Lion of Judah” program.
Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.
Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.
Written By: Josh Kimbrell.
By Dr. Tony Beam.
But in November of 2009 the President exchanged the all-encompassing “freedom of religion” for the much more narrowly defined “freedom of worship.” Speaking to the crowd gathered to remember the victims of the Fort Hood shooting the President said, “We’re a nation that guarantees the freedom to worship as one chooses.” He followed that up with a speech he delivered in Tokyo where he said, “The longing for liberty and dignity is a part of the story of all peoples. For there are certain aspirations that human beings hold in common: the freedom to speak your mind, and choose your leaders; the ability to access information, and worship how you please.”
