We have been looking at Matthew 13:31-32 where Jesus declared, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. {32} Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.” I mentioned previously Jesus demonstrated there is a design, plan and purpose for the kingdom for the kingdom of heaven as shown in the man who planted the mustard seed in his field. Yesterday I suggested the potential for growth from a small seed to a tree birds could perch in reminds us not to despise small beginnings. There is also demonstrated in this parable the importance of the inclusiveness of the kingdom of heaven.
Today I would suggest to you it would be a good thing to consider the potentiality that is contained in the DNA structure of the mustard seed. Whether it is a mustard seed, an acorn or a human embryo the DNA is fully developed and knows exactly how to respond to bring the completed process into reality. I watched a video recently of a series of ultra sounds showing the development of a baby starting from three weeks after conception. In God’s design for all things the DNA contains the perfect blueprint of what will be formed.
The mustard seed contains the potential of the full grown plant that birds can perch in before it is even placed in the ground. Jesus wants us to understand the kingdom of heaven contains the perfect blueprint as well to develop its full potential as well. But not everything develops as it should. Why? Because outside influences can impact and influence the process even though the design is perfect. Just a simple example of how this can happen. A number of years ago the drug thalidomide was given to pregnant mothers. This drug interfered with the development of the perfect blueprint which caused birth defects in the children born.
In the previous parable of the sower Jesus illustrated the fact it was not the seed which determined the outcomes of the harvest, it was the outside influences. The hard packed ground, rocky surfaces, and weeds which choked out the true seed can impact the outcome. Outside influences can also influence the development of the kingdom of heaven on earth.
The perfect blueprint of what the kingdom of heaven on earth could look like is programmed into its potentiality by God from the beginning of time. There are many people who think and dream about a planet where there is peace, love, freedom and benefit for every person and living thing. Isaiah describes and prophesies about such a day in Isaiah 11:1-9, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. {2} The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him– the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD– {3} and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; {4} but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. {5} Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. {6} The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. {7} The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. {8} The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. {9} They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”
The plan, the recipe, is already in place, the DNA structure is fully developed waiting for the outside influences to work towards that reality. That will be the time when God’s will IS done on earth as it is in heaven. Then the kingdom of heaven will be on earth. The recipe includes a willingness to choose to align with what God has outlined in relation to allegiance to His Son, Jesus Christ. Beyond the value of the blessings of living in the eternal elements of the kingdom of heaven, it would be important to ask yourself the question, “What is the value of knowing this knowledge and understanding the secrets right now on earth?
In Luke 17:6 it is recorded Jesus said to His disciples, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” Knowing what you now know about the built in potentiality and automatic response of the mustard seed in fulfilling its divine purpose, can you picture faith in this new context? Think about the power of the unseen forces God has placed at work in that small mustard seed. You have been given, “in Christ,” the authority and power of the One who placed all that power and potentiality within the mustard seed. How much greater is the creative authority and power within you than exists within the seed?
Notice what Jesus said, John 14:12-14, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. {13} And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. {14} You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Our power, authority, and potentiality is closely connected to our relationship to Jesus.
In John 15:5-7 we read the words of Jesus, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. {6} If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. {7} If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” It would be valuable for you to understand what a gift we have been given by Jesus as it relates to the kingdom of heaven for time and eternity.
Matthew 13:31-32, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. {32} Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.” I challenge you to seek to live your life under the unfolding process of God’s DNA design for the kingdom of heaven by fully committing your life to Jesus Christ and being filled with the Holy Spirit anew and afresh right now!
The potentiality for success in living your life to its full potential is built in us by our Creator. The question we must answer are we willing to do what is takes to see it manifested in our lives?