It seems that my lab partner and I had added thirty or more drops and nothing seemed to have happened.  The vat was still filled with a clear liquid chemical.  Wondering what kind of result we were looking for, we continued with what had seemed to be one of the most boring experiments we had to do.

It wasn’t until we had added about another thirty drops or so that we noticed the clear liquid in the vat was no longer clear, that it had begun to get cloudy.  The chemical in the vat got cloudier and cloudier as we continued to add a drops of the chemical from the beaker.

Then with one last drop the cloudy liquid in the vat became a bright red.

"With what can we compare the kingdom of God?"

"A mustard."  said Jesus. A mustard seed was the proverbial symbol of smallness. A Biblical commentator made this statement about the mustard seed.  "It is so insignificant that it is embarrassing.  "Yet, it is this insignificant sized mustard seed that Jesus compares the Kingdom of God.

Are you and I to understand Jesus to be saying that the Kingdom of God should just be a small part of our life, an almost insignificant part of our life?  If that was true why would we bother to pray, to read the scripture, to have baptized Kenneth this morning?  For that matter why bother even to be here?

If the Kingdom of God is to be a significant part of your life why did Jesus compare the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed and not to something of greatness. One who knows anything about Jesus has to come to expect that of Jesus.

Remember when his disciples were arguing among themselves as to who was the greatest. Jesus settled their argument, not by identifying any of them.  Nor did Jesus identify a world or religious leader.  Instead Jesus took a child and placed that child in the midst of them.  Then Jesus said, "Unless you become like a child you cannot enter the kingdom of God."

So often Jesus took what you and I would call insignificant and made it significant, as in the mustard seed.

"With what can I compare the kingdom of God."

We would like to think that the strength of God’s kingdom is found in a great preacher, or a great evangelist, or a great disciple.  In truth the strength of God’s kingdom is found in a mustard seed size faith in you and me.  A mustard seed of faith, of grace, of hope which we plant in the lives of others through our living.  For like a mustard seed which is not sown it is of no value, yet when planted it sustains life.  So it is with your faith.  A mustard seed size faith sown in love and grace, sustains the life of the believer and those around.

YOUR mustard seed size faith is imperative to your family, your church, your community. If you don’t believe me then consider the following story.

A large audience had gathered to listen to a symphony.  The conductor took his place, tapped his baton on the stand, and one musician took his place.  When the conductor raised his baton, the musician picked up his French horn and began to play at the conductor’s leading.  The French horn player performed his notes brilliantly, yet the audience became restless.  They began to murmur, not satisfied by hearing only the French horn and only the notes of the French horn.

The conductor stopped.  He tapped his baton on the stand and on to the stage walked several violinists.  When they had taken their place the conductor raised his baton.  They raised their instruments and began to play. The music of the violin was a welcomed addition to the sound of the French horn, but still the music was lacking.

Then the conductor stopped the musicians. For a third time he tapped his baton on his music stand and onto the stage walked the flutists.  After they had taken their places the conductor raised his baton and the musician began to play their respective instruments and parts.  The music sounded fuller than before, but every so often you could tell there were parts unplayed.

The conductor continued to stop the orchestra and tap the stand with his baton until every musician had taken their place.  With a full orchestra the musician played a magnificent symphony to which they received a standing ovation from the audience.

Each musician is like the mustard seed playing a significant part in the symphony. You and I should not underestimate the important part we play in the symphony of God’s ministry.

"With what should I compare the Kingdom of God?"

To a mustard seed, a mustard of faith in a believer’s heart.  A mustard seed of faith sown by a believer’s life.

Amen