Have you ever heard the phrase a little leaven leavens the whole loaf? The idea comes from a small amount of yeast (or probably even sourdough starter) mixed into bread, spreads throughout the entire loaf, causing it to rise and reach it’s full potential.
The same thing goes for sin also. Allowing a little bit of sin here and there, relaxing your standards, getting lazy with what’s important, that will spread through every area of your life.
The Feast of Passover
Recently my family and I celebrated the feast of Passover. It originates back to when the Israelites were in Egypt. When Moses was sent to ask Pharaoh to let the Israelites go to worship God and Pharaoh declined. This brought plagues upon the land, one of them being when the death angel visited every house and killed the firstborn son. However, if the doorframe was painted with the fresh blood of a lamb, the death angel was instructed to “pass over” that house and harm no one.
God gave this way of escaping the death angel to His people Israel. It is amazing how He always provides us a way of escape, we just have to be faithful to watch for it and take appropriate action.
In time, Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go. As they left in a hurry, they didn’t pause to give their bread time to rise, they were eager to get away. In remembrance of all God brought His people through, that has become known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It is good to learn the history of where you came from and remember what those before you went through. It is sobering, encouraging, and – hopefully – will help you be more committed to living for God.
Celebrating the Feasts
Interestingly, people in Christ’s day seem to have gathered together to remember key moments in the history of their people. One was Unleavened Bread, remembering escaping the cruelty of Egypt.
Much like we celebrate Thanksgiving today to remember how much our founding fathers sacrificed for us and how God blessed them, so also it is crucial we remember all the way our Lord has led us!
But celebrating the feasts is so much more than eating unleavened bread – though simple self restraint doesn’t hurt – it is vital that we search for the deeper meaning. I don’t think it was about the leavening in the bread, necessarily, but rather how seemingly little things in our lives can have such a big impact.
Sin, exceptions to the rule of law, white lies, etc, act like leaven. They are tiny, we think they get covered up and hidden just like the leaven seems too, and yet watch that bread grow – there is no denying it is in there. Likewise, by your fruits you are known. Those little things infiltrate every area of your life.
How Do We Get Rid Of It?
Search your heart and your mind, ask God to expose these areas to you and help you overcome them. Perhaps you want to ask a trusted friend for insight. Sometimes friends know us better than we know ourselves. Listen to your inner dialogue, make sure it is God honoring!
Sometimes when I reflect, I remember things that can get me worked up a little about this or that. It is such a good exercise to internally whisper, but I forgive so and so or but that led me here. I don’t want to harbor any bitterness or hard feelings, that doesn’t honor God.
As we celebrated Passover, I prayed about what God would have me do – spring cleaning in my life or my heart, so to speak. I love being open with God in this way. He reveals incredible things to me that I know come straight from Him!
A Little Leaven
A little leaven can be a good thing, when applied correctly. Perhaps it is in the form of memorizing Scripture, doing kind deeds for others, committing to pray for another. It reminds me of faith like a mustard seed, tiny but steadfast!
Let’s work to weed out the sin in our lives. Let’s plant proverbial little mustard seeds and give our all to God! After all, a little leaven leavens the whole loaf.
Until Next Time!
Hope.
PS. Read more about faith here: https://www.theamericanlady.com/2021/08/11/faith-can-move-mountains/