Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: PUZZLE (05/28/20)
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TITLE: THE MUSTARD SEED | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gloria Pierre Dean
06/04/20 -
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Many were agricultural and therefore relatable.
“How does a mustard seed speak of faith? It is a puzzling question.”
Jesus made mention of the faith of a mustard seed. He said, “..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" {Matthew 17: 20}.
The seed is small, it is alive and when it is planted, nature does its job.
With the help of water the seed cracks open, sends down roots as its anchor and then propels a strong stem upwards to the light; that eventually can grow into a twenty-foot tree with branches. A seed so small has been compared to faith by Jesus, means that we do not need a lot of faith to get things done. Jesus placed great value on small; such as the widow's mite {Matthew 12: 41-44} and the woman who washed his feet {Mark 14:8}.
It increases my faith and respect for Jesus because he does not look down on us if we start small. Christians start with small faith. That is the seed. In the knowledge of the Word and with time and persistence, the Holy Spirit will help us grow.
The mustard seed becomes a tree with beautiful colourful branches blowing in the wind and is home to birds. Its produce is medicine, used as toothbrushes and compliments the food. Mustard trees of different types grow in many countries of the world like Iran, India, Ethiopia and the West; just like the body of Christ which grows all over the world.
The seed is not too small to thrive in the dark soil. It grows and changes as it feeds on nourishments, absorbs water and nutrients. So too, a new Christian with small faith will initially thrive by small obscure steps like reading the Bible without understanding it all, yet because it is The Water of the Word, the Holy Spirit helps them to grow a strong stem, strong roots, and branches. With that growing faith, the Lord said, mountains can be moved. It's not the size of faith but the fact that you have faith. God works with that.
Stems must be strong, straight and unbending and not twisting this way and that.
Roots speak to me of unwavering faith.
Branches speak of spreading out and becoming more visible to others by acts of services. The mystery to me is that Jesus took the time to mention the mustard seed therefore we too must think of it and the layers of meanings.
So what is your mountain?
https://www.gardenguides.com/124943-mustard-tree.html
Mustard trees have a variety of uses. Toothbrushes are made from the branches in rural communities because they contain properties that resist bacteria and plaque.
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