Mustard seeds and birds aren't always good things

I was driving home one day after a BBQ at a friend's house and saw this hanging over the driveway. It gave me a funny feeling, it seemed ominous somehow. I stopped the car and took a photo of it. Today, The Parable of the Mustard Seed comes to mind:

"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof." Mt 13:31-32

Often, people take the mustard seed to represent faith which starts small and grows to a mighty tree. Yet the mustard seed never grows to a tree, it is a weed and grows to a bush no higher than 3-4 feet tall. What do the birds of the air represent? They were described earlier in Jesus' conversation, in verse 19 as The Wicked One.

In the mustard seed parable, Jesus tells us that the birds of the air will lodge in the branches. These "birds" as we see in the verses are actually demons led by "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2), who have continually tried to infiltrate the church. Satan thinks, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!' Satan efficiently implants his agents in Jesus' church to teach false doctrine while appearing to be true Christians. Sound like some of today's churches? We know from 1 Corinthians 18-19 that God has allowed antichrists to lodge within His church. They nest, they lodge, they infiltrate. Believe it. Like the birds in the photo, where there are a few clustered and not shooed off, more arrive and climb the branch. more, source here

Since satan is a counterfeiter and a copycat, and Jesus said when two or more are gathered so He will be among them also (Mt 18:20) then satan will also send his demons to nest in the mustard branches. Where you see two fowl, you will see more. The problem is, Jesus also said that in the time of the end, many will not be able to discern the false from the good: "And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many." Matthew 24:11 Is a fowl of the air nesting in your branch? Is he calling to fowl brothers to come on in? Pray daily. Study the bible daily. Walk with Jesus daily. Pick up your cross and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Why? Nesting birds in your branches are not always good things.