How can your story of living each day with illness symptoms or chronic pain reflect a parable of Jesus? Lynn explains.
“He 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 of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree . . . The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough'” (Matthew 13:31-34).
Jesus never spoke to the crowds but in parables (Matthew, vs. 34). The words that the Father gave Him were seeds that grew until such time He spoke them forth.
I, who now read His words, know they are life-giving sparks to encourage me and are seeds meant to thrive.
How I nurture them will determine potential leaven in the lives of those with whom I have contact.
Can I become a living parable? We each know how hard our days can be just getting ourselves through the challenges. How can any yeast be sweetened to bubble up and flow out to nurture another?
As God helps me through, that victory seed falls where He wills as I receive his strength that passes understanding. It is like the mystery of that mustard seed growing to be among the largest of trees. God’s Light-bearing seed will spread and be a covering for others who feel fragile.
I want the sweetness of God’s trust in me to allow Him to work out His will and become the catalyst that will flow out and bless those around me.
I can be a living parable of God’s love–not in spite of my difficult circumstances–but because of them. Surely He gets the honor as I remain ever aware of my weaknesses.
Yet there are times I am aware how smiles of encouragement light up the soul of another and each of our lives become part of his ongoing story–leaven arising to become a sheltering presence larger than when it was first planted as that seed to encourage me.
It is amazing what He can do with what seems so small!
Prayer. Lord, thank You for being such a generous sower of your seeds and allowing them to take good root in my life. May I always be aware of the choices I am given to continue to sow from the yeast of Your abundance. Amen.
About the Author:
Lynn Severance is a retired elementary classroom teacher. Since 1983, she has lived with vestibular dysfunction: constant dizziness, sessions of vertigo and related side effects of nausea, balance problems, neck and back pain, visual tracking and eye fatigue. She is a breast cancer survivor having gone through surgery and chemotherapy treatments in 1987-88. She lives in Lynnwood, Washington. Do visit her blog at http://lynn-severance.blogspot.com
When, at your weakest, has God found a means for you to minister in such a way to encourage another. How did that make you feel? In what ways did God help you recognize that you could be a “living parable”?
Lynn shares “In the video that images the powerful lyrics of Hillsong’s ‘Even When It Hurts’ we watch the darkness of where seeds are planted eventually emerge with colors to enrich with their bounty. May we each know such times as we praise God in our circumstances.” Hope this blesses you. -Lisa
Chronic Illness Pain Daily Devotionals 