Writing with faith, hope, and love
Express your letters to the Editor

“Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade. With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.” (Mark 4:30-33, NIV)

Observations:

I asked myself what are tangible things the eye can see.

Mustard seed, smallest plant, ground, growth, largest garden plants, big branches, birds of the air, and shade

Interpretations:

I asked myself what the mustard seed could represent.

From the previous parables Jesus had just told, SEED represented the Word of God. So, I decided to think of the ‘Mustard seed’ representing the Word of God.

I asked myself what ground represents.

I thought of ground representing unsaved people and saved people.

I asked myself what happens to the mustard seed when it is planted!

It grows in the ground.
It becomes the largest of all garden plants.
It has such big branches.
The birds of the air can perch in its shade.

In the parable, I thought about the mustard seed representing the Word of God. As the Word of God is planted in a person’s life, it grows in the person. Even though we cannot necessarily see how the growth occurs, we can visibly see the growth. I saw ‘garden plants’ representing different religions and the mustard seed giving us the Christian faith. It produces the largest of all converts because that is the power of the Word of God. The result is such big branches which represent Christians for me. The birds of the air represent wanderers and those who need shelter. I believe the Word of God when planted changes the entire landscape where it has been planted because from one small seed we get the Kingdom of God representing the followers of Christ. The Lord uses His followers to help wanderers and those who need shelter to come to Him.

"The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night." (Psalm 121:5-6, NIV)

Implications:

I saw important implications in my life such as the importance of the Word of God when planted in my own life and other people’s lives. So, I need to continue to plant the Word of God in my own life and in other people’s lives as the Lord provides the means and the way for me. For the Word of God changes the entire landscape where we live in. All the religions of the world cannot compare to what the Word of God gives us. The Word of God gives us Eternal life as I think about the power of the BIBLE: “Breathe In Bible Live Eternally.” This means that religion cannot save me but only having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can save me and the instructions are in the Word of God.

I ask you now dear friend what will you do with the seed?

Dear friend, the seed represents the Word of God. You can allow it to be planted in your life and in the life of others. It has tremendous power and the growth will be evident in your life because of letting the Word of God be planted in your life and making it take root.

There are so many people who identify themselves as Christian because they are born into a Christian family but that’s all it will become without Jesus at center. Jesus never talked about religion saving anyone. What Jesus emphasized was BEING BORN AGAIN. I believe it is the Word of God that helps us to be BORN AGAIN. The power is in the Word of God as it is planted in a person’s life and takes root.

I am reminded about the power of the Word of God:

"No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. (Deuteronomy 30:14-16, NIV)

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8, NIV)

“What does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:8-13, NIV)

^“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:16-17, NIV)

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV)

May the Word of the Lord fill you up and may you do what He wants you to do! Amen!

“Scripture Emancipates Everyone Delivering!” (S.E.E.D)/”What will you do with the seed?”

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for giving us your Word. Thank you Lord for the power of your Word! Help us Oh Lord to take your Word as our medicine. Help us to let it be planted in our lives and in the lives of others so we can grow in you Lord and be transformed. I need your Word Oh Lord in my life. Thank you Jesus for the promises in your Word and you provide us a way to have a personal relationship with you because religion does not save but it is you who saves us by your grace! Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you Lord for hearing us and answering us! Forgive us our sin Oh Lord as we come to you and ask you to cleanse us with your cleansing precious Blood. Thank you Lord for dying for our sin and coming back to life to save us! Fill us with the Holy Spirit in our lives. We acknowledge you as our Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you for saving us as you hear and answer us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of Mark which are also the devotionals I have been going through before the Christmas Devotionals and hope to continue in them. Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible Live Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-720-4579

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

NEXT DEVOTIONAL:
"What will you do with the S.E.E.D?" (Jan 31, 06)

Express your view

JANUARY 2006

Weather