The Faith of a Mustard Seed....

Matthew 17:20

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain,'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." NIV

We hear Jesus telling us that if we had faith like a mustard seed we could tell a tree to pull itself up by the roots and move to the sea and it would be done. 

I have often heard preachers and teachers using that verse as a way of berating the disciples, and all of us who feel we don't have enough faith. In fact, I feel so often that most of the religious life I have witnessed is spent reminding us of how we are not enough. We are not good enough, not Christlike enough, not rich enough (for if we were REALLY living in the life we would have treasures untold," we don't have faith enough to even believe in the miracles.

I have thought about this a great deal though and I think there was another parable being told here. In Jesus' description of faith he says: 

Mark 4:31

It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. NIV

Luke 13:19

"It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in 

his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched

 in its branches." NIV

I think Jesus was telling us if we knew ourselves and have 

the faith that a mustard seed has to just be itself, then we 

can all be the incredibly powerful beings as God intended us

to be.

A mustard seed is a small seed, tiny even. And yet the mustard seed,

simply by being true to itself, has the power to grow to be a great 

tree, one that provides shade for livestock, and a living space for all 

kinds of birds and creatures, as well as a food source and  spice for 

many. 

In many parts of the world the mustard plant is considered a weed. 

If one seed takes root and is not caught early, it can grow in the 

middle of a farmer's field and and cause  all kinds of problems 

regarding the leveling of the field, blocking sunlight for growth, 

and ease of plowing and planting crops.

Also, If you have ever has something as tiny as a mustard seed in 

your sandal or shoe,  then you know how irritating a tiny object 

can be until you finally stop  and remove the shoe and take out that

irritating little tiny thing.

Perhaps Jesus was telling us that if we can be like the mustard seed, 

having faith enough to believe in being exactly who we are meant to

be, focused on living a godly and righteous life, doing what we know

to be good and loving everyone around us regardless of if THEY

 believe or act as we do, then like the mustard seed we have the chance

 to grow into the image of God as was intended.