Listen

He told another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his field. 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.”

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.”

Matthew 13:31-33

Think

You might have people in your life who use short sayings or stories to teach you things about life. Some examples are:

• “A closed mouth don’t get fed!” (Meaning: if you don’t ask for help, you aren’t likely to get it.)
• “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” (Be patient and don’t rush things.)
• “You can lead a horse to the water, but you can’t make them drink.” (Sometimes you have to take initiative when given an opportunity.)

Like these sayings, biblical parables are short stories or metaphors that are intended to teach us something important about how we should live as Christians. Jesus uses them all the time to teach and explain things to the disciples, those who gather in crowds, and other people he encounters.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Parable of the Yeast are intended to encourage us in our faith. If we have the smallest of faith, we are still seeking God and God’s kingdom.

Naomi McQuiller

Question to Ponder:

What short stories or metaphors help support you in your faith journey?

Pray

God of those with mustard seed-sized faith, you are gracious and good. Thank you for your word, which is a guide for how to seek you. Help me to have faith. Amen.

Go

Take a few minutes to intentionally seek God in a way that makes sense for you. This could look like journaling, exploring nature, reading scripture, or spending time with friends.