A Mustard Seed Church
Jesus once told a parable, that is an analogy in Matt 13:31-32: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 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.”
The church which is a corporate group of Christians is the kingdom of God. This parable contains an important truth: the church will start small but it has an enormous life giving power that will one day grow to become a big tree, big enough to provide shelter and rest to birds and their offspring. Many things in our church are miniature in size: our weekly attendance, sanctuary, library and a few other things. Yet the Lord of harvest promises you that it will grow: the roots will one day reach deep into the soil and drink in tons of water and nutrients and its top will be heavy with bunches of good fruits, and provide life giving food to all—here you will enjoy abundant life. The Lord who keeps promises will accomplish this.
A Mustard Seed Life
Yet we need not wait till such a day before we enjoy its life. We started off with practically nothing in February last year. We had no money, no place and no resources. But the Lord honoured our faith in Him to supply our needs and He did: we did not wait till the resources came in before we took on challenges. It was the reverse. When by faith we did what we should be doing: we rented a place, renovated the church premises, bought a piano, set up a good PA system, bought a computer, set up a library and by faith did numerous gospel work which involve thousands of dollars and time and hard work, the Lord simply provided through various means including through the love of God’s people.
We faced numerous challenges from within and without: Internally, we, sinners as we are, had to learn to work with one another, love each other and accept each others’ differences and weaknesses. We thank God that the Lord’s love prevailed.
We also witnessed the Lord changing the lives of believers, moulding them to become more like our Saviour Jesus Christ. Depressed lives were uplifted; wanderers returned to the Lord, and spiritual lives were revived.
As we reached out to the lost, the Lord also gave us new converts whose lives the Lord also changed. As they grew in the knowledge of the truth, they also grew in personal holiness and faith. Those who once doubted and even blasphemed God, now understand and praise God and even share their new found faith with their loved ones.
And all these did not take place by chance but because the Lord promised that the kingdom of God, even Tree of Life Christian Church is like a mustard seed in whom is life potential, life experienced and giving life even now. But these can only come about if each and everyone in this church love the Lord, loving Him enough to love His church by working hard to save souls which are your Lord’s heartbeat. Love not the world, love your Saviour. Honour Him and He will honour you. Then the mustard seed will become a big tree and giving life to even you.