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He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

Matthew 13:31–33, ESV

A seed and leaven are used to describe the Kingdom of Heaven, and we ask ourselves, “What does this mean?” As we walk in faith, we aren’t changed by a large effort on our part. God begins His work in us with just a little bit of faith. Just as a mustard seed grows or yeast works within dough, so it is with faith. As the Holy Spirit works within us, we find that things begin to change. The more we pay attention, the greater the impact. Have you ever heard a message or attended an event where things just seemed to change in your thinking? This is what Jesus is talking about. A three-day event can be transformative in a person's Christian walk and can change them for a lifetime. This is the power of our God. We don’t have to have a huge amount of faith for God to begin doing great work within us. Our faith journey isn’t a competition. Like a marathon, the race we run is not as much about the time but in steadily focusing on the finish line and overcoming the obstacles we create. Our Lord desires us to know that the work He does within us is not so much about our effort but about letting Him work within us and how He brings us into His peace.

Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.