Tuesday March 1st, 2016 Luke 13:18-21
"It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden?" (verse 19)
Traveling on country roads in the winter time can sometimes be an adventure. One snowy day, I was trying to be extra careful steering my car along the icy gravel road. Suddenly, however, the car began to drift toward the ditch. Try as I might, I couldn’t keep the car on the road. I had lost control and ended up shearing off a road sign and re-decorating the side of my vehicle. To say the least, it was an awful feeling, and it took awhile to steady my pounding heart and catch my breath. At that moment, being out of control was definitely not a good thing!
In the reading for today, it does seem odd that Jesus would compare God’s kingdom to a mustard seed. People in those days didn’t plant mustard in their gardens. Like a dandelion, it would be hard to control and would soon take over the entire plot of ground. However, this image does appear to drive home a point: there is reckless abandon in God’s kingdom. God is extravagant, seemingly wasteful and out of control with generous acceptance, lavish love and great grace. And that’s a good thing!
Extravagant God, thank you for your out-of-control love for me. Amen. — LW
Contributed by Out of Control
Traveling on country roads in the winter time can sometimes be an adventure. One snowy day, I was trying to be extra careful steering my car along the icy gravel road. Suddenly, however, the car began to drift toward the ditch. Try as I might, I couldn't keep the car on the road. I had lost control and ended up shearing off a road sign and re-decorating the side of my vehicle. To say the least, it was an awful feeling, and it took awhile to steady my pounding heart and catch my breath. At that moment, being out of control was definitely not a good thing!
In the reading for today, it does seem odd that Jesus would compare God's kingdom to a mustard seed. People in those days didn't plant mustard in their gardens. Like a dandelion, it would be hard to control and would soon take over the entire plot of ground. However, this image does appear to drive home a point: there is reckless abandon in God's kingdom. God is extravagant, seemingly wasteful and out of control with generous acceptance, lavish love and great grace. And that's a good thing!
