Luke 12:31-32—But seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luke 13:18-19—Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”
Luke 13:20-21—And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was ALL leavened.”
You are to seek first the Kingdom of God…and as you seek His kingdom all the other things important to life and living will be added to your life!
You should have NO fear because it pleases God…it is His good pleasure to give you the Kingdom!!!
So…what is the Kingdom like?
The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed which a man planted into his garden!
According to Mark 4: 14 – 20…
Seed = the Word of God Garden or soil = your heart
So the Word of God planted in your heart will grow so big that birds can find refuge and rest in the branches and the shade of His Word will rest a weary traveler or protect the rest of the “garden” from being scorched by the heat of the day.
The Kingdom of God is like leaven which a woman hid in flour
Leaven = the Word of God Meal or flour = your heart
So the Word of God planted in your heart will grow and multiply till it fills your whole life with His life, power, authority, Love, compassion, Grace, Mercy, etc (every good thing that the Bible promises us).
Notice that in both of these parables the Word of God grows and multiplies till it overtakes everything else. It was the biggest tree in the garden and like leaven it raised and brought life to the whole lump of dough.
The Kingdom of God is like seed scatted on the ground
Mark 4:26-28—And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
Mark 4:20—But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.
Seed = the Word of God Ground = your heart
I love what this parable tells us about God’s Kingdom! When you scatter God’s Word in your heart…that seed—His Word…sprouts and grows all by itself!
How? You don’t know!
And all by itself your heart will yield a good crop as God’s Word grows in your heart. First the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. And when that Word of God fully matures in your heart it will produce good fruit in your life.
Sometimes it will produce a small change in your life, sometime a bigger change, and sometimes it will completely change an area, attitude, thought pattern, behavior ,or habit in your life.
Notice that the change is not you forcing it on yourself from the outside…but rather God’s Word working His good will in you so that you desire to change…so that you desire to do the very thing you thought you’d never be able to do!
This doesn’t mean you won’t have to push past your fears…but that’s so much easier to do when your heart is urging you…even pulling you toward the very thing you thought you’d never do!
Philippians 2:13 tells us the same thing—For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
It’s God Who works in your heart, through His Word that you’ve planted there…not just once… but over and over again, day after day after day, till like a good sourdough yeast (leaven), it grows and multiplies in your life until your heart and mind are filled with the power of God’s Word!
Then suddenly, and…often very surprisingly, you’ll find yourself being inexorably drawn to do the very thing you couldn’t do before…even though you wanted to do it or knew you needed to do it…and yet failed so miserably at doing!
This doesn’t mean that you won’t feel any fear or trepidation at doing this thing—but the drawing and pulling of God’s Word working in your heart will give you the strength and the power…
After all… “I can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens me”… and you’ll find yourself doing the very thing you feared and doubted you could ever do!
Victory is yours! All it takes is seeding out God’s Word in your heart—day after day after day—till you see first the blade, then the head, then the full grain in the head.
I challenge you to find a verse or 2 from God’s Word to seed into your heart. Write it (them) out on a sticky note or a recipe card. Keep it with you wherever you go. Whenever you have a spare moment or two read the verse out loud to yourself. Stand in front of a mirror and speak it over yourself. Repeat this several times a day if possible!
Do this every day for 30, 60, 90 days or however long it takes for God’s Word to start changing your heart. I guarantee you…God’s Word will change you! IF you are diligent and give it enough time to do it’s good work in you!
Want to learn more about God’s Word and it’s affect on your life? Check out my Instagram page: @Joanne.Spruyt