Matthew 13:31-35
I would like to revisit the idea of heaven on earth again. From this passage the kingdom of heaven is likened to someone planting a mustard seed. The kingdom is not described as an abstract place in the sky but as an action of a person or the growth of plant.
I spoke the other day about heaven on earth and so let me continue. If the kingdom of heaven is like someone planting a mustard seed, it seems to me the kingdom is started by every small act we "plant" in our daily lives.
When I see someone at work or on the road and even perhaps in my own family that seems unhappy or even a malcontent, I think they have an issue. Perhaps a big one in life like I did when I tried suppress being gay for so many years. Perhaps though it's a small problem, an argument with their spouse and everyone during that person's day pays for that argument. It happens all the time. It's like a chain reaction.
I loved a commercial that was running recently, I think it was actually for an insurance company. The clip showed people witnessing a good act and feeling compelled to pass it forward to another and another and another. It was a great commercial.
So which scenario do you see yourself playing a part in? Just as the mustard seed is so small and becomes so large, so our small actions have enormous consequences down the line, both good or bad. What are we trying to create? Heaven on earth? Or are we inadvertently creating a living hell for those around us?
How can we create heaven on earth? Of course self awareness is key. Intention is pretty darn important also. What we need to do is have thankful hearts as well so that we are almost compelled to to say thank you by kind acts towards everyone. Perhaps it's a simple as holding a door for someone or letting someone in line ahead of you at the store. Perhaps it's sharing your lunch or buying someone a lunch. How about raiding your pantry for excess food that could help a local food pantry? How about buying an extra bag of rice or an extra can of food for that food pantry when you are shopping? How about volunteering? How about a simple compliment to someone that might just make their day?
If heaven is some abstract place in the sky, some magical place that we hope to go to when we die, I think God is giving us ample notice that we are to try to create it here first. What did you do today to help make our world heaven on earth? Any little thing will do.
I spoke the other day about heaven on earth and so let me continue. If the kingdom of heaven is like someone planting a mustard seed, it seems to me the kingdom is started by every small act we "plant" in our daily lives.
When I see someone at work or on the road and even perhaps in my own family that seems unhappy or even a malcontent, I think they have an issue. Perhaps a big one in life like I did when I tried suppress being gay for so many years. Perhaps though it's a small problem, an argument with their spouse and everyone during that person's day pays for that argument. It happens all the time. It's like a chain reaction.
I loved a commercial that was running recently, I think it was actually for an insurance company. The clip showed people witnessing a good act and feeling compelled to pass it forward to another and another and another. It was a great commercial.
So which scenario do you see yourself playing a part in? Just as the mustard seed is so small and becomes so large, so our small actions have enormous consequences down the line, both good or bad. What are we trying to create? Heaven on earth? Or are we inadvertently creating a living hell for those around us?
How can we create heaven on earth? Of course self awareness is key. Intention is pretty darn important also. What we need to do is have thankful hearts as well so that we are almost compelled to to say thank you by kind acts towards everyone. Perhaps it's a simple as holding a door for someone or letting someone in line ahead of you at the store. Perhaps it's sharing your lunch or buying someone a lunch. How about raiding your pantry for excess food that could help a local food pantry? How about buying an extra bag of rice or an extra can of food for that food pantry when you are shopping? How about volunteering? How about a simple compliment to someone that might just make their day?
If heaven is some abstract place in the sky, some magical place that we hope to go to when we die, I think God is giving us ample notice that we are to try to create it here first. What did you do today to help make our world heaven on earth? Any little thing will do.
He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’
He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’
Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet:
‘I will open my mouth to speak in parables;
I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.’
‘I will open my mouth to speak in parables;
I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.’
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