Daily Devotional For Saturday, October 17, 2026
Good morning Southside! I am following the One Year Chronological Bible reading suggestion and any Bible verses you see highlighted in bold (ex. John 3:16), means it is a link to that verse. All you have to do is click on the reference and it will take you to the verse online. Our daily devotional for today comes from the words of Jesus found in Luke 13:18-19:
“Then Jesus said, ‘What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? (19) It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches’” (NLT).
In Luke 13 Jesus compares the kingdom of God with a mustard seed and wheat. Just like a seed that falls to the ground, Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth. And just like a seed, there is a delay between its planting and its fulfillment. And when that seed grows, something significant comes from it. A tiny acorn can produce a huge oak tree. The size of the seed is no indication of the size of the fulfillment. The initial seed of salvation can produce a Billy Graham or a Lottie Moon or a Jim Elliot, and also you.
In Jesus’ day teachers often referred to a mustard seed to teach something about something so small producing something so big. This tiny black seed is so small it is easy to mistake for a speck of dust. But this speck of dust size seed can produce a plant that is 15 feet in height. The Gospel, though small in size and to some a speck of irritating dust in 40 years after the Resurrection had reached every single major metropolitan city of the Roman Empire and was now growing in small villages. All it took was 40 years., And the more Rome tried to stop it, kill it, it spread like another plant, Kudzu, through the Roman Empire.
And though you may feel insignificant and small compared to the celebrities and politicians and world leaders today, it is not about size – but potential. When you are watered with the Living Water and fed with the Bread of Life, your potential is exponential. You may think no one even notices you, but God does. And if you will allow Him to use you for His glory, you will see HIm do things through you that you thought were impossible.
Want some examples from Scripture? A 100-year-old Abraham and a 90-year old Sarah became parents of Isaac. A man by the name of Noah built an Ark and saved his family and animals. A shepherd boy by the name of David killed a 9 foot arrogant giant named Goliath. An uneducated fisherman by the name of Peter stood up to preach and over 3,000 people came to Christ. The right person surrendered to Jesus Christ as a “mustard seed” will produce a harvest for the Lord that is unimaginable.
Reflection Assignment: Would you say that you are totally surrendered to the Lord to do anything He may ask you to do? If not, why? It is never about the size you of your fulfillment, but your willingness to surrender. What has the Lord been asking you to do but you have been putting it off? You have all your excuses as to why you do not qualify, but would you consider today to surrender unconditionally to Jesus Christ and just do it?
Scripture To Meditate On: James 4:7, “Submit yourselves to God” (NIV).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I want to be Your seed for Your glory. Please forgive me for all the excuses and hesitancies I have had in totally surrendering to Your will. I want to stop making this about me and all about You and Your kingdom. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly