November 10th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

GOD LOVES ME DEARLY, LOVES EVEN ME      

Matthew 13:31-32 “He (Jesus) told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”  Few, if any of you, have seen a mustard seed. It is one of the smallest seeds in the plant world. Yet, as it germinates, sprouts, and grows, from this tiny seed comes one of the largest plants in the plant world. It is in fact hard to fathom how such a small seed can produce such a large plant.  So what if the mustard seed is the smallest of seeds and the plant that is produced by it is one of the largest in the garden world? What point does Jesus make here in today’s devotional verses? What is the take-away for you the hearer or reader of this parable?    

Jesus Christ came into the world as a tiny, insignificant baby, born a child of a very young virgin and her carpenter husband. The kingdom God sent Jesus into the world to establish is a living organism like the mustard tree. Like the trees insignificant beginning from the tiniest of seeds Jesus grew from a baby, born in a stable, to a twelve year old discussing deep theological questions in Jerusalem’s temple, to an itinerant preacher moving throughout Israel, choosing fishermen, tax collectors and the like as His disciples and sent them into the world to spread the gospel where today there are literally billions of men, women and children who believe, trust and follow Him and receive through Him God’s forgiveness and gift of eternal life.  

God gives the simple words of the gospel the power to save sinners. (see Romans 1:16) St. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Just six verses later further states, “. . . Christ (is) the power of God and the wisdom of God.” As the tiny mustard seed becomes the huge mustard plant so Jesus, revealed to you through the Gospel is the Holy Spirit’s instrument to work faith in your heart to receive God’s forgiveness of your sins and gift of heaven through faith in His Son.  

Prayer: Grant unto me, O Lord, eyes to see and a heart to believe that you alone are my Savior from sin and the only way to heaven. In Your holy name. Amen.  From the virgin’s womb, the manger of Bethlehem through the Cross of Calvary God brought about your salvation as the following Christmas hymn proclaims . . .  

God loves me dearly, Grants me salvation,
God loves me dearly, Loves even me.

 Refrain:  Therefore I’ll say again: God loves me dearly,   
God loves me dearly, Loves even me. 

I was in slavery, Sin, death, and darkness; 
God’s love was working To make me free. Refrain: 

He sent forth Jesus, My dear Redeemer,   
He sent forth Jesus and set me free. Refrain: 

Jesus, my Savior, Himself did offer;  
Jesus, my Savior, Paid al I owed. Refrain: 

Now I will praise You, O Love Eternal;   
Now I will praise You All my life long. Refrain:  

God Loves Me Dearly // LSB 392