4.2 Don't Overlook the Small Things

Matthew 13:31 "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all other seeds…

Well known to Jesus’ audience, the mustard seed was very small. In fact it was the smallest of the seeds that farmers in that region regularly sowed in the field. It’s about the size of this letter “o”. Not very impressive is it? And yet the Lord Jesus tells us that the Kingdom is like this mustard seed.

It starts from humble beginnings

We like to start things BIG! Stores have Grand Openings, movies have World Premiers, and to be honest, sometimes Christians have fallen into thinking that Bigger is Better.

Don’t overlook the small things. After all, Jesus wasn’t born in Rome, the world’s cultural center, or in Jerusalem, the center of the Jewish world. He was born in the tiny town of Bethlehem. Neither was he born into a palace; rather, He was born in a stable, in a feeding trough for animals. He started life on earth as a tiny baby.

We talked last week about noticing the tiniest signs of growth. But before the growth begins, Kingdom things often start out very small. Almost imperceptible at times.

I’ve encouraged you in this study to pray big prayers and that’s important! But don’t be discouraged when it seems as though you have very little to start with. The farmer doesn’t give up on a mustard seed because of its size. He knows a mustard seed carries within it tremendous potential. Likewise, don’t give up when your faith or resources are tiny. Kingdom things start small.

Prayer Prompts and Discussion Starters:

• Ask God to help you go ahead and pray Kingdom prayers when your faith or resources seem very small.
• Ask God to increase your faith in His ability to do amazing things with your feeble efforts.
• Ask God to do big eternal things through you, your community of faith, and the greater body of Christ.
• Are there Kingdom works that you have discounted because they are small and weak in your eyes? Pray for these works and pray that God will change your heart toward them.
• Ask God to take your eyes off your circumstances and have complete confidence in His ability.
• Ask God to show you His greatness.
• Give the praise and glory to Him when He accomplishes impossible things in answering your prayers.
• Ask God to bring about a worldwide revival of trust and confidence in Him.