Mustard Seed Size Faith
Updated: Apr 20, 2022
Have you ever heard of the Grain of Mustard Seed parable? It is one that has passed the test of time, being passed down over the last 2000 years. Its message is that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed you will be able to move mountains, and nothing will be impossible to you. I had been thinking about this parable quite a bit before the following realization hit me:
You don't have to have faith the size of a mountain to move a mountain.
This parable is trying to give a small glimpse into the power that faith really is. I kept getting caught up on the thought "I'd like to believe that my faith is AT LEAST the size of a mustard seed, and yet I can't move a mountain, nor have I seen anyone move a literal mountain.
But this is missing the point entirely. This way of thinking focuses on the mountain and not the mustard seed. Which is like trying to have faith the size of a mountain. Rather, the point it’s trying to teach us is that even a little faith can do some very significant things.
You see, the difference between faith and belief is action. Faith is belief with action. Belief + action = faith.
And so, if you first believe, you can substitute the word ‘faith’ with ‘action’ and it becomes “if you have the action of a mustard seed, you can move mountains.” suggesting that we have the capacity to do some great things, if we believe and act on that belief.
This isn’t to imply that this parable only discusses figurative mountains either. I believe that this parable can be taken both literally and figuratively, but the key is the mustard seed and not the mountain, as it is by small and simple means that great things are brought to pass. We just have to start moving and working for things to happen.
So, what is your mustard seed? What actions can you take today?
As with all parables there are many meanings and understandings to be had. This is not meant to be an extensive explanation of this parable, but some points that impressed me, so feel free to share what this parable has meant to you!
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