We are beginning to see the signs of new growth after a (short) season of Texas-style winter. Grass is greener, bulbs are bursting out of the ground, and I’m preparing to do something I’ve never done before.
I have four cuttings from a very old fig tree that are ready to plant. I have my hat, my gloves, and my shovel ready to go out and “farm” these little sprouting beauties. In full disclosure, I have to tell you my family is laughing their heads off. Why, you ask? Because I have a long-standing reputation for not having a green thumb and a guarantee to kill silk plants.
While I’m getting my tools together for this new adventure, I remember Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed Matthew 17:20-21 tells us: “For truly I tell you, 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 for you.” I always wondered how faith as small as a very small seed could move a mountain.
A mustard seed is only about one millimeter, yet it can grow into a bush 30 feet tall and VERY sturdy. In the same way, though small, faith will grow and do incredible things, so long as we cultivate the ground.
Farmers must have that kind of faith. Year in, year out, they prepare their fields, plant their seeds, and get up day in and day out to nurture their crops until harvest. Without a doubt farmers have mustard seed faith, because they rely everyday on God to provide the good weather and environment to fruition.
The mustard seed in the parable grows to be a huge tree, representing the tiny beginnings of Christianity when just a few disciples began to preach and teach the gospel. Eventually, the kingdom grew to huge proportions, encompassing the entire world and spreading over centuries. So, too, can a teensy bit of faith grow to immense proportions in the lives of believers while spreading to influence all they come into contact with.
Like the seed which becomes a great tree, faith cannot remain static without a deeper relationship with the Lord. Without proper care and attention, faith will fade away.To grow our faith, we must choose to care what we devote ourselves to; commit to a growing relationship, water our plant of faith by listening and study; get plenty of sunshine by surrounding ourselves with positive influences; weed the ground by erasing doubt and negative influences; and feed our faith by prayer (it’s like a scoop of Miracle Gro!).
Regardless of your station in life, your faith matters greatly in this life and eternity. You don’t have to be a Billy Graham to be a great witness. You don’t have to be the world’s wealthiest man to give greatly. A seemingly small act of kindness, saying a faith-filled prayer for someone, or whatever faith-motivated act we take, no matter how small, can have an eternal and mountain-moving impact on another’s life.
Now I’m headed out to plant those cuttings!
Debby Efurd is co-founder of Cary John Efurd Ministries. Learn more about the ministry by liking our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CJEMinistries) and downloading our FREE mobile app (get.theapp.co) from App Store or Google Play. Once downloaded, allow notifications to keep you up to date on what’s happening in Cary John Efurd Ministries. Debby can be contacted at caryjohnefurdministries@gmail.com
