In the Shade of the Old Mustard Tree

I'm not a good crisis person.  When the stress level is highest, I'm usually at my lowest.  Although I would love to be the "glass is half full" kinda girl, I'm really just the opposite.  If something's bad, it will likely get worse.  I just really struggle with maintaining a positive attitude. it's not that I don't believe God's in control...I know He is.  It's just my nature.
I am doing a study at church by Annie F. Downs entitled "Looking for Lovely", a study to help us look for the good things in every situation. ( something this "downer" girl needs).  It's a really good one.... You should check it out.  There was one lesson that took my scattered brain in a whole new direction.  It was about the mustard seed parable.  We've all heard it, but I had never really explored it very much.
The parable occurs in Matthew 13 and17, and also in Mark and Luke.  There is so much in this one lesson from Jesus I could take this in all different directions.  But here's what spoke to me .  It's all about quantity and quality.
A mustard seed is pretty small.  It's not the smallest seed in existence,but it was the smallest one that was familiar to the people Jesus was speaking to.  Even though it is tiny, a mustard seed grows into a tree that is about 20 feet tall.  Its branches are low, and close to the ground.   It can be as wide as it is tall.  Amazing that something that big could grow from something so tiny.  In Matthew 13, Jesus further explained how the mustard tree grows full and tall, and the birds nest in its branches.    The plant becomes a haven for rest.
I believe one of the lessons from this scripture is the one Matthew Henry speaks of in his commentary. The mustard seed can be likened to the new believer who grows and matures in the faith.  But what happens to a seed that is planted and never taken care of?  What if it's never watered? Gets no sunlight? Or even if it's over watered or too much sunlight?  No plant, right ?  Or what if we expect it to grow faster than it is, so we pull it up in frustration?  Yup, we're never going to have that tall plant, that sturdy haven of rest.
The whole point is this....our small faith is enough.  We don't have to master it...we don't have to worry about it.  Nurture it?  Of course, in all the ways we know we should.  Stay in the Word, talk and study with other believers, stay in our local church.....all the things we have been told to do.  But we don't have to worry about how much faith we have because it's really not about the size of our faith.  It's about the One who we have faIth in.
So that's quantity.  Developing a larger, deeper faith takes nurturing and time.  But Jesus told us the size of a mustard seed was enough.  So that takes us to quality.  It's a bigger can of worms.... And one I completely understand.
We've all heard the term "playing church". I did it for many years.  The problem was I didn't know it.  I'm afraid most people who are playing church don't know it.  I think if they did they would do something about it.  I know I would have.  When you are playing church, your faith may not be mustard seed faith.    It might be better explained by the term "little faith." On a post on breakpoint.org, T.M. Moore explained it this way:  "Little faith is mechanical and routine, self-important, lacking in vision and love, and done apart from real dependence on the Lord."  He says ' little faith' looks like real faith, except it bears none of the fruit of real faith.  Hmmmmm....sounds familiar.
Moore goes on to explain ' mustard seed faith' as "desperate, daring,demanding,determined, and deposited in Christ and his mercy and power alone."  Some of the qualities of that faith he lists as:
  • Acts according to the will and purposes of God
  • Grows out of constant communion with the Lord
  • Loves others and acts with out regard for self-interest or personal benefit
  • Believes in the promises of God even when circumstances don't look good
I think I get that!  I can also put names and faces in these two categories.  I can put my own face in both at different times.  But I'll tell you this....a true mustard seed faith is what I want. And I'm going to water it with the Word, give it plenty of Sonshine, and watch it grow.  I want my mustard tree to be tall.  A shelter in the storm.  'Cuz I need that shade.  Everyday.

Matthew 17:20
    "He replied, 'Because you have so little faith.  I tell you the truth , if you have faith as small as a mustard weed, you can say to this mountain,'Move from here to there,' and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you."

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