Yeast - Part 1

Devotion for the week...

Today I'm sharing the first part of a two-part series inspired by a familiar verse from Matthew: "Jesus also used this illustration: 'The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough'" (Matthew 13:33). 

Reading that verse over the summer made me think of two different, but related, ways to consider its application in our lives. We'll look at one of them today and the other next week.

First, how is the Kingdom of Heaven like yeast in our individual lives? There are two parts of what Jesus said that seem important to me. 

One, He said the woman used 'only a little yeast.' That makes me think we don't have to devoted hours upon hours to Bible study or prayer in order for it to be effective. A little time with God can make a big difference! Fitting in a little Bible reading or a little prayer is better than feeling like there's no point in doing it at all if we don't have hours for it.

There are Bibles designed to be read in a year, with a daily commitment of only 15 minutes. That's only a little each day, but in a year's time you could read every book of the Bible for yourself. Who knows what impact that could have? 

Or consider spending just 15 minutes in prayer each day. Or choose a time when you're already doing something else, like driving to work, and spend that time in prayer (with your eyes open, if you're driving, please!). 15 minutes may not be much, but neither is a spoonful of yeast, and yet it's incredibly effective. How effective could 15 minutes of prayer be in our lives and the lives of those we care about?

And second, Jesus said the little bit of yeast permeated every part of the dough. What would it look like for the Kingdom of Heaven to permeate every part of our lives? For that little bit of time we spend in worship, Bible reading or prayer to affect all the rest of our day? It might look like a little more patience for the difficult person in our life, or it might look like a little more grace for ourselves after we make a mistake. It might look like a changed relationship, or turning away from questionable activities, or embracing a more generous frame of mind. Almost certainly, it would look like "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23), and who among us doesn't need more of those?

I can't think of anything better than having the Kingdom of Heaven permeate my life as thoroughly as yeast permeates bread dough!