Scripture: Matthew 13:31-32
Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
Thought for the Day: We place bird-feeders or a birdhouse in the backyard to attract our feathered friends. In most situations, people enjoy being able to do a little bird watching from their back window. That’s a very different opinion then those living in the first century. Birds were most often viewed as rodents with wings. Especially for farmers, birds were scavengers who would eat recently planted seeds. So when Jesus offered a parable that compared the Kingdom of God to a bush that would give protection to these despised creatures, only some people got it. Who were the birds in the mind of Jesus? Who are the birds in today’s world (in our community) who would find contentment and security in the Kingdom of God, despite the world’s opinion?
Prayer: Lord, may your images of the Kingdom continue to confront and challenge my thinking. Amen.
