Inevitable flourishing
July 29th, 2009 by Jennie Tate Posted in Uncategorized
At Connect (the UWA Christian Union Inter-College Christian group) we’re looking at the parables of Jesus in Luke’s gospel. Next monday it’s Luke 13:18-21, which kind of has two parts to it, both comparing the Kingdom of God to ‘everyday’ events. The first is the comparison to the mustard seed that’s planted and grows into a tree big enough for birds to nest in it’s branches. The second is the leaven (yeast) that’s worked through the flour and transforms it in size. The picture language Jesus uses here really helps us understand the massive transformation that occurs.
Obviously, both comparisons start with something small that becomes big. Both have a character that does something – plants and kneads – but their actions don’t actually bring about the transformation. Both have to walk away and wait for the change to happen, for God to bring it about.
The fact that we have learnt to expect trees to grow and bread to rise doesn’t make it any less amazing that they do, and certainly doesn’t mean God’s not involved in the process. He hasn’t set the world in motion and stepped back from it, but instead is integral to sustaining everything.
The same is true with the growth of His Kingdom. Although he involves us, we’re not the ones that bring about anything. The dramatic and inevitable flourishing of His Kingdom is solely the work of our Mighty God.
image taken from flickr, posted by cdw9
