Personal Seed

Mark 4:30-32 (AMP) And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use to illustrate and explain it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown on the ground, even though it is smaller than all the [other] seeds that are [sown] on the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden herbs; and it puts out large branches, so that the birds of the sky are able to make nests and live under its shade.”

It all starts with a seed. I have been in ministry just about my whole marriage, twenty-five years. I have had to grow into it. I was not raised in ministry, nor the church. For many years I went through the motions of what I had witnessed. It was not until I decided to really dig into the Word for myself that my kind of mustard seed really took root. That is when real change happened in my life.

Looking at all of the parables of the Sower in Mark, there are three that really talks about the seed in chapter 4. We can read them in order of how they are written with the Parable of the Sower and Soil, the Parable of the Seed, and the Parable of the Mustard Seed. I did just that, however, when I got to the Parable of the Mustard Seed (verses 30-32), it made me go back and look at the other two again.

For many years I was like the person in the Parable of the Seed, “Then He said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who throws seed on the ground; and he goes to bed at night and gets up every day, and [in the meantime] the seed sprouts and grows; how [it does this], he does not know (verses 26-27).” The Seed (the Word) is always good, and it will produce something. That is what is like when you know some of the Word. I went to seminary when I first got saved, like immediately after. I attended church every time the doors were open. I poured into my study Bible. There was a seed that was being planted into ground, and it was producing a change in me. Then it became stagnant. I never went off to do on my own, but I did not grow very deep. There was still a lot of Amanda living.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed tells us the seed is LIKE a mustard seed, meaning as a metaphor as something small. I take it as a revelation of the Word that is personal to you. Often, we get so overwhelmed with the things of the Kingdom that we stay in the position of the Parable of the Seed. There are seeds in the ground (we are the ground) and it is producing but we do not quite know why or what. When I grabbed a hold of me being rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, that was my mustard seed. Some it could be about faith in Christ, some it could be right standing in Christ, others it could be adoption through Christ. We all need a seed like a mustard seed. That is when real growth begins.

Now that we have a mustard seed, look back at the Parable of the Sower and the Soil (verses 3-20). How much you hold dear to the that seed, will determine the soil. Can the seed grow roots? When I grabbed a hold of the seed of Ephesians 3:16-20, and it came alive in me, the roots began to really form. Transformation happened like never before and still is. There are many that say that they read their Bibles and they do not get anything. Have you invited the Holy Spirit to join you? He is our Teacher.

Mark 4: 24-25 (AMP) Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond]—and more will be given to you besides. For whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him.”

Our hearts are the soil. Our minds are the gateway to our soul. Our mind, will, and emotions have to be surrendered to the Word of God for any seed to take root. That seed was not planted seven years ago when I got the revelation of being deeply rooted in the love of Christ. It was planted twenty-seven years ago, when I received Jesus as my Savior. I remember the moment. I remember how the Holy Spirit spoke to me. I remember that He told me the love that I desired I could not get from my fiancé (now husband), it was only through Christ. I desired to be deeply loved, and that is where it began. There was so much that tried to take away that seed, but the seed is always good. I may have put it away from my mind for a while, but I never let it go. Then in my darkest moment, I could allow pride to reign or I could surrender. I chose to surrender, and it has been the greatest decision I ever made. Has it been easy? No, but it has been worth it.

We all receive a seed. What is yours? Do you hold it precious to you? Our salvation through Christ is the greatest gift we could ever receive. He is inviting us to go deeper, to take root. The mustard seed grows into one of the largest trees in the field. It becomes so big that birds can nest in it, a place of peace. I want to show others what it is like. I want to encourage you to feed your seed and let it take root. Let it open up Christ in your life that you never could imagine for yourself. I have taken Ephesians 3:16-21 and formed it into a prayer for you and myself.

Our Father, Holy is Your Name. Thank You for Your Son. May He grant us out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in our inner selves, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And may we, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; and [that we may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that we may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that we may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself]. Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.