Do Not Despise the Day of Small Things
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Luke 13:10-21
In this passage, Jesus heals a woman who was disabled for 18 years. The ESV describes the disability in this way, she was "bent over and could not fully straighten herself."
It's interesting to note that the disability doesn't appear to be simply physical, but also spiritual. 13:11 says that she had "a disabling spirit," and later Jesus says in 13:16 that in this disability, this woman was "bound by Satan" for 18 years.
And Jesus heals her. He lays his hands on her, she is made straight, and she glorifies God!
At face value, we might read the details of this miracle and think: nothing is incredibly significant here. "Surely the kingdom of God is not advancing and expanding in this!"
This woman, likely elderly, would have been "past her prime," and not able to significantly contribute to society in any way, even when healthy. Furthermore, Luke doesn't even seem interested in mentioning *where* this is! We don't know if this happened in any sort of well-populated city, with lots of witnesses to the miracle. Luke just tells us this happened in "one of the synagogues."
But make no mistake,
The kingdom of God was breaking through here.
The King of the kingdom was breaking the chains of Satan! *Eighteen* year old chains!
And this was no ordinary woman! For Jesus speaks of her with dignity: she was "a daughter of Abraham." (13:16)
Jesus wanted to teach those gathered in that place today - and us today - what His kingdom is like. He says in verse 18 that His kingdom:
"... is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests and its branches."
I don't plant a lot of mustard seeds. (I don't plant ANY mustard seeds.) But I know how small mustard seeds are, because one of Becky and I's favorite things to eat is the pretzels at Old Bakery. (You gotta try one sometime!) And we love the mustard that comes with these pretzels. And let me tell you - a mustard seed is super tiny!
But from a grain of mustard can come a huge tree.
The kingdom of God is often in-breaking in small, microscopic, nearly invisible kinds of ways. Through events, actions, and conversations that we might think insignificant.
But that's because we "lean on our own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).
Our minds are "conformed to this world," and to this age (Romans 12:2).
And we "despise the day of small things" (Zechariah 4:10)
The question for us to consider today is:
In what ways am I not seeing the kingdom of God breaking in? In what ways am I limiting God's power?
- Maybe it's a conversation or a relationship that you think would have no impact on the kingdom of God.
- Maybe you are viewing your time alone with God in His Word and in prayer as insignificant, and so you're neglecting it.
- Maybe there's an opportunity to serve others, but you don't see the point. "The kingdom of God wouldn't advance through me serving there, and serving them!"
- Maybe there's a timetable that you think is hopeless. "It's too late for this to happen." But you forget that "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years." 2 Peter 3:8
Let us see and hear this invitation from the King of the kingdom today!
Even in what seems insignificant, mundane, or impossible, we trust His power and His reign.
"Not by might,
nor by power,
but by my Spirit,
says the Lord of hosts."
Zechariah 4:6
- Joe