Lil’ Goes A Long Way

Imagine This

In the 1730s, a young preacher named Jonathan Edwards began faithfully preaching to a small church in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Week after week, he simply opened God's Word and preached it. There were no stadiums, no microphones, no livestreams, and no social media. To most people, it looked like nothing remarkable was happening.

Then God began to move.

The revival spread from one town to another... then from one colony to another... until thousands of people were coming to faith in Christ.

What historians now call The First Great Awakening began with what seemed like a small, ordinary act of faithfulness.

A little went a long way.

Read Together

Read Matthew 13:31–35 together.

As you read, notice what both the mustard seed and the yeast have in common.

Scripture Overview

Jesus tells two short parables to describe the kingdom of heaven.

First, He compares it to a mustard seed. Though it begins as one of the smallest seeds a farmer plants, it grows into a large plant where birds can rest in its branches.

Then He compares the kingdom to yeast mixed into a large batch of dough. The yeast is almost invisible, yet over time it works through every part of the dough.

The message is the same.

God often begins with things that seem small.

A single seed.

A little yeast.

One conversation.

One act of obedience.

One faithful prayer.

One family committed to following Christ.

The kingdom of God rarely arrives with the kind of spectacle people expect. Instead, it often grows quietly, steadily, and powerfully until its influence reaches far beyond where it began.

If you're praying for revival, don't despise small beginnings.

Revival has often started with one church, one preacher, one prayer meeting, or one person who simply decided to obey God.

You may not see the results immediately.

But God delights in taking small acts of faithfulness and producing extraordinary fruit.

A little, placed in God's hands, can go a very long way.

Talk About It

Why do you think Jesus chose a mustard seed and yeast to describe His kingdom?

Why do we often overlook small acts of obedience?

Can you think of someone whose faithful example has influenced your life?

Where might God be asking you to faithfully plant a small seed?

Practice This Week

This week, don't wait for a big opportunity to serve God.

Instead, look for one small act of faithfulness.

Share the Gospel with someone.

Invite a friend to church.

Pray faithfully for someone every day.

Encourage another believer.

Serve someone without expecting anything in return.

You may never know how God will use one small act of obedience to accomplish something far greater than you can imagine.

Prayer

God, thank You that Your kingdom often grows in ways we cannot immediately see. Forgive us for becoming discouraged when our efforts seem small.

Help us to be faithful with the opportunities You place before us. Give us confidence that You can use even the smallest acts of obedience to accomplish Your purposes.

May our lives become seeds that grow into something that brings glory to You.

In Jesus' name, Amen.