Monday, August 01, 2022
Even though I'm not much of a baker and relate to it more with the nursery rhyme, "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man," than cooking, I do understand what yeast is when added to bread. It's called leaven, which influences or "puffs up" bread. An influence Jesus referred to when using it in our following Wonderfully Weird Command: "Beware of Leaven." This teaching of Jesus, when applied, gives rise to virtuous living and deflates the "puffed up" attitude of hypocrisy that causes weaknesses in our character.
The Bible regularly uses leaven to describe the idea of influence. Most understand it to be good or bad. For our command, it's understood as bad. Jesus said in Matthew 16:6, "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." In other words, Jesus is saying, "Be on your guard against the teachings of the religious fools in life (Pharisees) and corrupt officials in governing life (Sadducees)."
Are you a victim of these bad influencers, or, worse yet, are you one? Let's see. One of the characteristics of leaven is the fermentation process that produces pockets of air that "puff up" what it is influencing. In bread making, the "puffed up" made by leaven causes the dough to rise and enlarge. Still, the dough is easily deflated by applying pressure. It just takes a little pressure to force it all to collapse. In people's development, it's similar. The "puffed up" made by lousy influencers in life causes egos to rise and be enlarged. However, the ego is easily deflated by the pressures of life; it only takes one little poke or trigger to puncture the whole good reality of the person. Have you been influenced by Christ or by the yeast of religious fools and corrupt officials?
Deflating is necessary when one of the following situations is present in your life. You use blame and excuses to rationalize your bad habits rather than increase God's good traits in your life—Matthew 15:8. You teach the "Be Like Me" faith rather than the "Be Like Jesus" that produces a good life — Matthew 15:9. You do good deeds like giving money, then brag about it — Matthew 6:1. Your prayer life is more about impressing or begging God for things rather than seeking the transformation you need "In Christ" — Matthew 6:5.
To stop being a hypocrite and falling into the trap of bad influencers (religious hypocrisy), examine your moral compass and live by the moral code of Christianity - The Ten Commandments. Also, embrace humility and regularly learn, practice, and grow in the integrity of the faith. You do so by obeying the Wonderfully Weird Commands of Christ. When we decide to live by these commands, such as "Beware of Leaven," all the other teachings fall into place to deflate the weakness of human nature to experience the virtuous living of the divine spirit that only comes with the influence of God the Father's direction, God Son's alignment, and the Breath of God's Spirit.
With appreciation,