Stop Cursing the Birds

# 350 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 4:30-32, Then He said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? "It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; "but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade."

This mustard plant represents the sum total of all the gifts of God found in Christ Jesus. It is the fullness of Christ and His kingdom It started out small, buried in the ground just outside Jerusalem. It was in Jerusalem that the kingdom of God (the church) established its roots, but has since spread out to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.

An interesting feature of this parable are the birds. Note that they are not part of the mustard plant, (not part of the kingdom of God) but they benefit greatly from its presence. Think of what this world would be like without the salt and light of the kingdom of God. Think of what this world would be like without Jesus.

The presence of Jesus in His church and in individual believers, graces this garden we call earth. I think we spend far too much time cursing the birds (you know, “Shoo! Get away from, me!”) instead of allowing God's grace to flow through us so that we might be the place of shelter and rest that the world so desperately needs.

As an old Gorden Jensen songs says, “You're the only Jesus some will ever see.” With God's grace flowing through us, let us allow ourselves to be that place of shade and rest.

Jesus was speaking to these very “rest seeking” birds when He said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.