“And He said, ‘How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.'” (Mark 4:30-32)

Jesus teaches us here that the Kingdom of God often advances on small beginnings. We see this in a number of instances in scripture.  God created one man and one woman in the Garden, who would eventually multiply to fill the whole earth. He later called ONE man, Abram, through whom to begin His redemptive nation Israel. He started His church with a few disciples in an upper room. But it grew greatly from there. The Kingdom starts with small beginnings, but grows.

It makes one wonder, what “small beginning” might God use in a great way in my life, in our family, our church or our town? Is there some commitment, some prayer, some act of obedience, which, although it may seem as small and insignificant as a mustard seed, might be used by God in a powerful way for the Kingdom?  A great revival broke out in Wales when one woman obediently gave her testimony when no one else was sharing.  What might God do through some small step, through some “little” act of obedience through you?