SLOWLY, SLOWLY
Opening Prayer
Lord, I am hungry for You. Feed me with Your Word today
Read Luke 13:18–21
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”
20 Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Footnotes:
a Luke 13:21 Or about 27 kilograms
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Have you ever baked bread? Can you see how Jesus can pull spiritual truths from the process?I recently watched a baking program where the contestants had to bake and flavor bread. There were some amazing creations, but often when the bread was cut open, the judge, himself a famous baker, could show that the yeasty dough had not been left to prove long enough for there to be a good “rise.” It takes time and can’t be rushed.
In yesterday’s verses we saw that the kingdom of God had arrived in Jesus – the healing of the oppressed woman was a tantalizing glimpse of what the kingdom is like. Now, Jesus wants to tell the joyful crowd (17, 18) a little more about the outward and inward impact that the kingdom will have. Healing one unknown old woman was a small thing (although not for her) but, like seeds and yeast, what Jesus said and did would have enormous ramifications for the whole world (19, 21). Creation will one day be set free from its bondage of corruption and find security and safety in the kingdom of God (19). And the kingdom will spread in influence until the whole world feels its force (21).
But, like the bread of the competitors, it takes time, and the yeast has to work unseen for a long time before it is ready (21b).
Apply
Whenever you eat bread today, remember to pray for the kingdom of God to come.
Closing prayer
Jesus, may I be a “bringer” of Your kingdom to my world around me. May those I meet be influenced for You.
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