Throughout the word of God beginnings are mentioned. With the creation of the universe being so spectacular we would expect the coming of God to earth to be equally spectacular. But, it is not. A stable is the setting. Shepherds are the first visitors. Jesus picks 12 disciples and three of them are his inner circle. All of this seems rather underwhelming. Jesus interprets what happens in terms of planting seeds. He wants us to take notice of the smallness of the beginning of His kingdom, so that when it is huge and lasting it can only be attributed to God’s hand.

Take that same principle and apply it to the kingdom in your own life and the parallel is consistent. Our first day following Jesus was full of excitement, but very little substance on our part. We generally have no idea how significant the change will be. Over time our understanding and delight in Jesus grows. At the same time the fruit of the Spirit is more dramatically displayed, and our trust and faith expand. Just like the fully developed mustard plant can support the weight of birds, our faith can withstand the trials of life. Remember today that Jesus is actively building His beautiful kingdom, both in you and around you.