Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
FOR THE LOVE OF FELLOWSHIP: CUT IT OUT
Of the few times the word "leaven" (or yeast) is used in the New Testament, only once is it used in a positive way. Paul carefully points out to the Christian fellowship in Galatia that the leaven of false teaching spreads in a big hurry and often very silently. He likewise writes to Timothy, the young pastor, of a false message going on that "will spread like gangrene" unless it is cut out (2 Timothy 2:17).
Jesus warned His listeners of the leaven of false teachings that these "teachers of the law" were spreading (Matt 16). Jesus sets an example for us by showing amazing love to the scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees. He could have easily ignored them and sent them away, but even with love there is such a thing as tough love. In spite of their arrogant pride Jesus makes it clear to them that He has cut them off with the hope that they would repent of their sins and follow Him (see also 1 Cor. 5).
We might compare leaven or this spiritual yeast to our own sin at times. Sin by nature is like a cancer that eats away at us and may even control our lives. Like gangrene, it needs to be cut out when it rises before it consumes us completely. Since the world is infected with this cancerous sin and false teachings, what does our Savior tell us?
Luke 13:20 And again He said, "To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and mixed into three measures of meal till it was all leavened."
Our Lord uses the illustration of leaven/yeast both for the protection and the promotion of His pure Word of forgiveness. Thankfully, we have been freely given Jesus Christ as our divine Physician, the divine Cure, the Forgiver and Savior of all sins. You have the Cure. What are you doing with it today?
