The Mustard Seed

The Mustard Seed

The mustard seed is smaller than all other seeds; this is always how everything begins in the kingdom of heaven. Therefore Satan hates these small mustard seeds that have such great inherent strength, and he exerts the greatest effort to get God’s chil­dren to overlook them. Each truth that faces us is like a small mustard seed. It is so simple, almost unnotice­able, and yet so important. It is a step further on the way. When God puts this small truth before us, it appears to be so utterly natural and simple to our eyes because it follows in the very steps of the previously acquired truths. One could almost believe that it was not a new truth that God has sent our way and by which we can make further progress. Thus this small mustard seed is overlooked; it was far too insignificant to be no­ticed. When God gives it to us, Satan is always present and opposes it with unbelief in the heart. It is so insignifi­cant; it is not esteemed; it is nothing great with which you can shine; it comes clothed in life’s everyday work clothes; it is only a little glimpse of light by which your ministry can be improved. Satan knows the art of putting a greater thing beside the mustard seed—something that is more to your advantage; something that seemingly will give you greater results; something that can tickle people’s fancy for greatness which they have inherited from Satan, for he can follow only his own course. Satan cannot follow the course of the mustard seed because it is too insig­nificant; he always has to enlarge it.

Taking up insignificant matters is a great cross, because then man’s greatness has to yield. Yet it is pre­cisely for the purpose of crushing those things which are great that God lets the kingdom of heaven be like something that is small—a mustard seed, a lump of leaven, a strait gate, and a narrow way. If we are obedi­ent to the truth that is before us at the moment as it makes progress, we will see that for each step we take there is a new truth ahead of it. By being faithful to the seemingly insignificant truth that is hidden in the moment, lying before our feet, the truth will increase just as quickly as time passes. Wisdom calls out to us wherever we are. The truth is always near. It invites us to look correctly at that which is lowly. The Spirit is to lead us to the truth; its revelation is given for the common good. What is better than receiving light in the moment by which we can take steps without wavering on the narrow way of righteousness on which there is only room for our feet, whereas ev­erything on both sides glitters with Satan’s false, glowing colors.

Many people would call this being trivial, but it is never trivial to take a firm step forward in the moment in which we are now liv­ing. Satan would rather let the soul dream about great things than let him take care of small things.

The cross is in the truth that is before us, for it strikes the very thing in the soul that does not want to follow it—foolishness that wants to go its own way. By being faithful to the truth, we will go against all falsehood, and we will discover that the seemingly insignificant truth is mighty to destroy man’s own fanci­ful ideas. A little truth is mighty to set us free from utter foolishness. But when that happens, we will no longer call a little truth insignificant; we will see that it comes, clothed in a simple garment, but it is glorious on the inside and brings with it God’s power for salvation.