Calendar

SMALL BUT POWERFUL
LORD’S DAY, JULY 27
Luke 13:18-21

Psalm 92:12-15

 

“…Unto what is the

kingdom of God like?…”

 

SMALL BUT POWERFUL
 
The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It starts out very small, but it will grow till it becomes a great tree. As a great tree, it provides shelter for all kinds of birds. This is a picture of the Gospel and the church. The church started out very small. In Acts 1:15, we are told that there were only about 120 members in the Jerusalem church. But within forty years, the Gospel from this little church spread throughout the Roman world, and even beyond. So from one church came many churches: Corinthian, Galatian, Ephesian, Colossian, Thessalonian, etc. Today, there are Christian churches all over the world consisting of people from every race.
 
Leaven has been used in the Scripture negatively to refer to false doctrine (eg. the leaven of the Pharisees and Saduccees of which Jesus told His disciples to beware [Matt 16:6,12]). However, here it is used positively to refer to the permeating influence of the Christian faith when believers enthrone Jesus as Lord of their lives. When Christians behave like Christ in the world, they exert a moral influence on those around them.
 
The Gospel leaven has indeed permeated the whole world with its saving message that only Jesus saves. It is life to those who believe, but death to those who reject. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matt 24:14).
 
THOUGHT: “In this world we taste but the beginning of Christ’s kingdom.” (Calvin)

PRAYER: Thy kingdom come, O Father!

Search