Title: One Mustard Seed /Mark 4:30-32
Contents
one mustard seed
Text: Mark 4:30-32
The year 1996, which started with hope, anticipation and a new determination, is coming to an end and disappearing into history. Now we have the last Sunday of 1996. In just a few days, we will be entering a new year, 1997. I hope that you will become a saint who gives thanks to God for protecting you so far.
Jews divide time into two parts. The first hour is 1 o'clock, 2 o'clock, 3 o'clock... 24 hours that flow. Usually refers to time. The second time is a time that is divided into 1 month, 2 months, 1 year, and 2 years. The first hour is the continuous time that has passed since history, and the second hour is the times given only once in history.
Therefore, the time between 1996 and 1997 has no difference in the first sense. On December 31, 1996 or January 1, 1997, the sun rises in the morning, eats breakfast, works for the day, and the sun sets in the low range and sleeps is the same. But when it comes to time in the second sense, there is a significant difference. The sun rises, eats, works, sleeps and sleeps on the same day, but December 31 is the day to end the year, and January 1 is the day to start a new year.
People live in these two concepts of time. Some people spend each day meaninglessly, while others spend a day, a week, a month, or a year as meaningful time. Today I want you to reflect on how I spend my time.
In order to spend this time of 1996 as a meaningful time, I hope that you will quietly reflect on this year and welcome the new year with meaning.
Today, focusing on the parable of the mustard seed in the text, I hope that it will be a time to look back on our past and prepare for the new year. May our reflections, reflections, and plans be fulfilled in the Word of God.
1. Do not underestimate the value of small things.
In Palestine, a mustard seed means the smallest. Of course, there are some that are smaller than a mustard seed, but the mustard seed symbolizes a small thing.
The world we live in pays attention to and praises the big things, but ignores the small things and despises them. In fact, it is believed that mustard seeds are absent. If there is something about the size of a mustard seed in our attention, people not only pay little attention to it, but consider it as nothing.
But Jesus was always interested in the little things rather than the big things. He welcomed the little children the disciples had driven away, and he valued the widow's two coins more than the rich's many offerings. He valued serving a bowl of cold water and compared the wonderful and great kingdom of God to a small mustard seed. The miracle of Oh Byeong-Eye did not ignore children's small lunch boxes, but received them and congratulated them. In the parable of the judgment in the last days, Jesus identified the least with Jesus, saying that whatever you did for one of the least, you did for me.
Big and important things always start small.
The giant tree that stood tall as if piercing the sky started with a small seed. Even the hero who shakes the world became like that as a child grew up. God took the young shepherd David, defeated Goliath, and made him the greatest king of Israel. He called the young Samuel and made him the greatest priest in Israel. The early church that destroyed Rome began in a small attic, and the gospel of Jesus that moves the world began in small and small Galilee.
It is not that what we do is too small, we shouldn't start with small things. In Matthew 25:14-30, the reason the servant who received the month's rand buried it in the ground was probably because it was too little, so he gave up the month's loan and, as a result, did not reap anything.
When we look back on our past year, we realize that it was a very humble and insignificant year before God. In particular, we want you to look back to see if we have neglected or valued the little things too much.
Yehwa) Title: <Midam> With warmth in a 10-won coin… Date: December 25, 96
Busan Nam-gu Office (Chairman 李英根) collected over 1 million 10-won coins to help the underprivileged during Christmas and New Year's holidays. On the 25th, Nam-gu Office donated 1.43 million won to Daeyeon-dong Hyundai Mental Nursing Center, 500,000 won to St. Francis's house in Uam-dong, 1 million won to Sohwa Infant Rehabilitation Center in Yongdang-dong, and 700,000 won to Daeyeon-dong Saebit Christian Orphanage. delivered
The ward office started collecting 10 won coins in 1993. A collection box was set up in the civil service office to collect 1,5,721 coins from residents and employees visiting the ward office.
In the meantime, the ward office supported 3.76 million won for burn surgery costs for Mr. White Eun-tae (female^33) in Yongho 1-dong, who is having a hard time living, and 2.32 million won for the ankle treatment cost of Mr. (Female^39) has delivered 350,000 won for knee joint treatment.
Mayor Lee said, “It is a 10 won coin that is depreciated because of its currency value, but it is being kind to neighbors in need.
＜釜山＝尹鳳school＞＞
Abandoning the thought, "If only one of me is in the worship service! What if I don't meet at the class meeting alone? A 1,000 won donation would be a different thing!" In 1997, through small efforts (evangelism, service..) and small devotion, I was able to please the Lord. I hope the saints who do.
2. The planted seed grows.
Although a mustard seed is small, it has vitality in it. Therefore, if you plant it in the ground, it will sprout, sprout and grow. Paul said that it is man's work to sow and it is God's work to make it grow, and he told you to sow diligently in season or out of season, and sow with tears. Then God gave a clear promise that He would take responsibility. Paul said in Philippians 1:6, "We have confidence that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion by the day of Christ Jesus."
If you look at your personal beliefs and the history of the church, you can see that it starts off as small as a very small mustard seed and looks pathetic, but it grows wonderfully over the years. The early church was started by 12 disciples. They were so feeble that none of the people of that time looked to them. However, the 12 disciples conquered 150, 3,000, and 5,000 men, and soon Rome with 70. Today, 33% of the world's population are Christians.
Ex) Yeouido Full Gospel Church is the largest church in the world, and we know all too well that it started in a tent where no one cares.
You must believe in the fact that no matter how small a seed you sow, it will grow.
example)
It happened in 1920 while Dr. A. Schweitzer was on a mission to Africa.
As he was doing missionary work for Africa, he suffered many difficulties due to lack of medicines. So he informed the newspapers and broadcasters of this reality and appealed to people to send them medicine. A 13-year-old boy who read this newspaper broke a piggy bank, bought a bottle of aspirin, and sent a letter to the Air Force authorities requesting transportation. As this story spread over the air, all Americans responded to this event, raising over $400,000 and sending 4.5 tons of medicine to Africa. When the drug arrived, Schweitzer said, "I didn't know this little boy could do such a great job."
We watched the little boy's broken piggy bank grow enormously.
Example) The Miracle of Oh Byeong-Eye
A boy gave out his lunch box for the hungry, so there was enough food for 5,000 people. In fact, it's impossible to do it with just one lunch box. Perhaps we thought this way. "I'm going to put this on someone's nose. One person will be full." But he put out the small lunch box. And that little lunch box showed us a wonderfully growing history.
A mustard seed is so small that it seems useless, but it makes up a very large tree. In the same way, we believe in the fact that our small efforts and zeal are nurtured by God who makes them grow. Furthermore, in 1997, I hope that even small efforts and zeal will sow fervently and grow.
3. Have hope for the results of your growth.
“It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is larger than the herbs and becomes a tree, and the birds of the air go and make nests in its branches.”
The mustard tree is said to grow very fast and grow large. It usually grows to a height of 3-4 meters, and it is said that many birds visit the tree and nest in it because the seeds of the tree are loved by birds.
Think of a scene where a small mustard seed grows into a large tree, and tired birds are sitting on a green branch, picking and eating the fruit. Isn't it so beautiful? This is showing us the beautiful results of growth.
The psalmist said, "He who sows with tears will reap with joy." In other words, those who sow now should look to the joy of the future, even if the present is difficult. I hope that you will become saints who diligently sow seeds while looking forward to the joy of the future.
Today we should expect these same blessings of our own faith and the work we are doing. We must believe and wait for the fact that the God who is in us and who started a good work makes us grow, produces fruit, and gives us various blessings. God definitely makes it grow and gives amazing fruits (results).
Dear Saints who passed 1996 and welcomed 1997
1. Don't neglect the little things. There is a saying that small chilies are spicy.
Please give hard work such as small zeal, service, loyalty, love, evangelism, and devotion.
2. Please believe in the fact that you make small things grow.
Believe that our small efforts and efforts will grow and sow the seeds with effort.
3. Hope for the results of the little ones growing up.
May the blessings of the Lord and the future look to heaven and live.
I hope that 97 years is the size of a mustard seed, so don't neglect it and bear precious fruit through little zeal.