Bread is a staple part of our diet,and thankfully something that most of us enjoy, for me the aroma of freshly cooked bread as well as its appearance usually has one effect, hunger!
This food also comes in a variety of different shapes and sizes, from the standard white/brown sliced loaf to the baguette, batch or cob to name but a few variations as well as the more artistic platted versions.
Its diversity is continued through its many uses, sandwiches for the work lunch, toast for breakfast or used in entertaining with a buffet, where would we be without it?!
Unfortunately it can be so easy for all of these qualities to be wasted if it is not eaten in time, the limp sandwich caused by its moist salad enclosures. Or just being simply left out for too long, gradually air makes the bread either go rock hard as it dries out or it becomes covered in mould, making it unfit for consumption.
I am sure that by now you will be aware of where I am going with this theme, since starting this blog I have become increasingly aware of what Jesus warned us about through using bread’s vital ingredient, yeast as an example. I can see the lump of dough as being, representative of my Christianity but what makes it rise and is the final product fit for purpose?
Jesus in the Gospels warned about the yeast of the Pharisees and in 1 Corinthians we learn of the effects of spiritual immorality among those in the church, it doesn’t take a lot to spoil the batch comes the very clear warning and which I for one, find a sobering thought.
In 2016 I first became very aware of a passage in 1 Peter 2 v 1 which says;
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind
On first reading this particular verse it made me sit up and consider my ways, however since that time I have gradually begun to realise its true depth and the consequential great importance of its meaning.
As we are all warned to regularly check ourselves physically for anything that should not be present, so we must be equally vigilant spiritually, as the effects of anything present in this area could be just as threatening, not only to ourselves but others as well. Dough needs yeast to produce the end product, but if the yeast is polluted in some way, the end result will at best be off and at worst only fit for the bin!
So the question I need to ask, is my dough/christian walk tainted? Do any of these conditions apply to me? If so how, and then what do I need to do about it, ,most importantly of all, what’s the Holy Spirit telling me to do?
Whilst any faults present may not be one of the seven deadly sins, each of them can drive a wedge between myself and the Lord and over a period of time, be it short or long, become a part of me until possibly, I become a part of it.
All Christians want as close a relationship with the Lord as possible, myself included, however I wonder if this is more about being blessed, thereby meaning that we live peaceful lives with this world with the reassuring promise of eternity at the end?
Just think, how often is the subject of sin mentioned in Christian circles nowadays?
Also is my understanding of repentance correct? Look the true meaning up and decide if what you understand repenting to be, is actually correct, because I have to confess that my version fell well short.
Also just think if someone died for you personally how grateful you would be,or if the queen or the p.m. died for you (what chance of that happening?), then how very grateful would you be? But if the creator, if God in the form of Jesus died for you, well I think you and I need to realise just how much we must matter to God.
So let’s all consider if we have any bad yeast in our dough and if so, get rid of it!!
Because you matter!
All blessings to you
Tony