Beware of... Yeast??

"be on your guard against the yeast"

Matthew 16:6

This has to be one of the weirdest statements in the Bible.  And the circumstances surrounding it make it even odder.  It's Jesus talking to his disciples, and the verse before it gives us a little background that allows us to even see a little humor in the conversation.

As chapter 16 begins, Jesus is again being tested by the Pharisees and the Sadducees, who are asking Him for a sign from heaven (as if Jesus Himself isn't enough...)  Jesus cautions them against relying on "miraculous signs" particularly when the Son of God was standing there in front of them.

After this, Jesus and His disciples went across the lake, and verse 5 tells us that the disciples forgot to take along some bread.  This is so interesting, because it comes in the wake of Jesus miraculously feeding four thousand people, from seven loaves and a few fish.  Next thing we know, the disciples have forgotten to bring along even enough bread to feed themselves.  Sometimes you just have to wonder if the disciples are learning anything, don't you?  But then I look in the mirror and remember that I'm not much better...

So Jesus, remembering the Pharisees and Sadducees, decides not to miss a teachable moment, and warns His disciples, "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."  The disciples ~ not for the first time ~ are flummoxed by what He's saying.  So they discuss it amongst themselves, and decide that He's scolding them for not bringing bread on their journey.

I'm sorry, but this just cracked me up.  How obtuse can they be??  Do they think He's afraid they are going to try to purchase bread from the Pharisees or Sadducees, and that their bread might be dangerous?  Is it any wonder that Scripture constantly refers to us as sheep, and as children of God?  When it comes right down to it, even the most brilliant of us is positively simple-minded compared to Him.

Jesus' point, of course, was not really about bread.  It was, as He had said, about yeast.  Yeast is an amazing creation.  A one-celled fungus that reproduces itself.  We've all seen how bread is made ~ how a small amount of yeast works its magic and a loaf of bread is the result.  A little bit grows, and goes a long way.

And so it is with words, and with ideas.  It's been said (either by Mark Twain, or Charles Spurgeon, depending on who you ask...) that a lie can travel halfway round the world before the truth can pull its boots on.  And twisted Scripture is especially dangerous ~ this was the trick the serpent pulled on Eve.  And the Pharisees and Sadducees were convincing speakers.  Their mis-interpretations of Scripture ~ or of signs from heaven ~ were dangerous.

The danger did not disappear with the Pharisees and Sadducees.  2 Peter 2:1 says "just as there were false prophets among the people, there will be false teachers among you.  They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord."

Notice the word "secretly" in that verse.  Yeast does its work quietly.  You put a cloth over the bowl, and set it aside, and the next thing you know, it has doubled in size.   Hence the need for us to be on our guard.  Wisdom comes only from His Word, and discernment comes only from His Spirit.  Be on your guard against anything that is not from Him.

~ "Don't you know that a little yeast 

leavens the whole batch of dough?" ~

1 Corinthians 5:6

Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, & Homemade Raspberry Jam

"by their fruits you will know them"

Matthew 7:20

A friend of mine gave me some homemade jam on Sunday.  She didn't have any great need to make her own jam; she doesn't have a surplus of home-grown berries or anything.  I guess she and her daughter had an urge to make jam, so they went out and bought berries, and made a couple dozen jars.  Then they brought them to church, and handed them out.

I don't know if she'd been holding one for me.  We've been friends a long time, and maybe she thought, "I have to make sure I give her one; she'll appreciate that."  She's the kind of person who'd do that sort of thing.

It's also possible she just handed jars out to the first two dozen people she saw, whether she knew them or not.  She's the kind of person who'd do that sort of thing, too.

But even though I've known her for a long time, and we've had the opportunity for many deep, heart-to-heart talks, somehow the subject of homemade jam has never come up.  So I don't think she could possibly know how I feel about homemade jam.

I feel very strongly about homemade jam.  There are few things better in this life.  Honestly.  Although I think part of the reason I feel so strongly about it, is that I can't make it myself.  Or I won't.  Or I don't.  I don't know... There's too many steps; you have to watch it closely; making sure the jars are sterilized, etc; it's too easy to screw up.... I don't have the patience or the energy or something.

I still remember several Christmases ago, in the family draw-a-name gift exchange, my cousin pulled my name, and gave me a couple of cute Christmas towels, and two jars of raspberry jam.  I have no idea what I gave to who that year.  But I remember that jam.   My mother-in-law has given me a few over the years, too.  And I think a friend of my sister's.  But that's it.  See how they stand out in my mind?  I've tried nearly every commercial jam/preserves in the store, except the ridiculously expensive ones, and nothing compares to homemade.  They can use a fancy script on their label; they can call them "fruit spread" or "delectably-preserved-fruit-topping"; they can combine fruits in new and unusual ways, like "Watermelon ~ Orange ~ Mulberry" or whatever.  Not the same.

But my sweet friend knows none of this.  She simply made jam, and shared it with people.  And that brings me to today's verse.  I know my friend pretty well, and I know her heart and her love for people.  But if you met her for the first time, and she handed you homemade jam, you'd get a pretty good idea what kind of person she is.  "By their fruits you will know them..." means that our words and deeds give others insight into our character ~ for good and for bad.  You can put on your best face for others, like you might on a first date, or meeting your prospective in-laws, but sooner or later, who you really are is gonna come out.  My sweet friend showed love, kindness, and goodness with her raspberry, strawberry and blackberry, but if you didn't see it in her jam, you'd soon see it in a thousand other ways.   The Holy Spirit in us is manifest in many beautiful ways.  The problem is, we generally give the glory for those fruits to each other, not to Him.

So I'm grateful to God for the love in my Awesome Girl, the joy in my Amazing Boy, and the goodness in The Apple of my Eye, as well as the kindness of my jam-making friend.  I'm thankful that each of these people has God's Holy Spirit in them, and I'm so thankful that I get to enjoy the fruits of His Spirit in my life!

"the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

Galatians 5:22-23

The blind leading the blind...

"Can the blind lead the blind?  

Will they not both fall into a pit?"

Luke 6:39

Last week was hubby's birthday.  So my awesome and amazing kids and I decided to take The Apple of My Eye out for a surprise lunch.  We blindfolded him, and I drove to the restaurant, but we made a few comments to throw him off, like, "Should we bring the dog?  Nah, she didn't like it there last time," or I might tell him he needs to bring a change of shoes or something.   While we're driving, I might say something to one of the kids, like, "Call her and tell her not to start until we get there".   None of that means anything, but it keeps him guessing.

As we walked out of the house to get in the car, he was already blindfolded, so I was guiding him.  We went through the door from the house to the garage, and I was carefully watching to make sure I didn't bump him into the door jamb.  And while I did that, I forgot that he had to go down a step.  Whoops!  Sorry, dear...

He stumbled a little, but fortunately, he didn't fall or twist his ankle or anything.  We were both laughing, but it occurred to me that it's harder than I thought to lead someone who's blind.   It's like trying to teach someone how to do something on the computer ~ your fingers know what to do automatically, but your brain has trouble with the detailed descriptions necessary to teach someone else.   In this case, it was hard for me to think of everything he needed me to tell him.   Once we got out to the garage, and walked toward the passenger side of the car, I was so much more focused on his feet, and not letting him trip over anything, that now I was in danger of letting him bump the side-view mirror as he walked by, or hit his head getting in the car.

Naturally, this verse popped into my head.  It's one of those verses that's so common, that probably a lot of people don't realize that it's Scripture.  It comes right before Jesus' words about judging the speck in a neighbor's eye, and failing to see the plank in your own eye.  "You hypocrite!  First take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

The point to both verses is that we have no business judging someone else ~ or telling someone else what to do ~ when we ourselves are just as sinful and lost.  Of course, we can't wait until we're perfect before we love, lead, or guide another.  The lesson is simply about knowing our own failings.  We need to be in frequent communication with Him, and seeking to learn what needs to be fixed in our own lives.   Otherwise, it's like telling someone to add more sugar to their cookies, and not realizing that what we're guiding them towards is salt.  We're advising them to make matters worse if we don't know enough about the situation.

The other lesson, I think, is sympathy, or maybe even empathy.  I needed to put myself in Hubby's position.  I needed to imagine how it would feel if I were going through that doorway, and what I'd be worried about, and what I'd need to know.

We're really not equipped to step out and guide someone else through a tricky situation if we're not prayed up.... if we ourselves are not being led by Him ~ through prayer and through His Word.

If you're responsible for leading someone else, make sure you yourself are being led.

~ "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, 

along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; 

I will turn the darkness into light before them

 and make the rough places smooth.  

These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." ~

Isaiah 42:16

Lessons from the Pioneer Woman

"Whatever you do, do it heartily"

Colossians 3:23

Are you a fan of cooking shows?  I love them.  I don't very often avail myself of the recipes they share.  I guess I'm pretty happy with my repertoire of recipes.  Once in awhile I'll see something new I want to try, but mostly I think I just enjoy the sights and sounds and descriptions of food.  And I definitely enjoy learning new tips and tricks for the kitchen, or flavor combinations I never thought of.  Like knowing which herbs go well with which foods.  I don't have a good instinct for that.

The Food Network has a new cooking show with a very entertaining blogger and author named Ree Drummond, or The Pioneer Woman.  She was making macaroni and cheese, and it was so decadent and delicious looking.

Now, I love macaroni and cheese, but I rarely make it from scratch.  I was never a fan of the cheap box version, but my kids had tried it at a friend's house or something, and they always bugged me to buy that.    So the couple  of times I made mac & cheese from scratch, they were disappointed.  So we compromised on the frozen stuff.  It wasn't homemade, but at least it wasn't made with that unnatural-looking fluorescent, cheese-type powder.

And then today I watched The Pioneer Woman making macaroni and cheese.  With cream and egg yolks and plenty of shredded cheddar cheese.

{And can I just interrupt here to say that of all the wonderful things that Great Britain has given the world, extra-sharp cheddar might be my favorite.}

So there I was, drooling over her mac & cheese, (and her homemade lemon & blueberry pancakes) and I really admired her for making these simple dishes from scratch.  She's a busy mom with four kids (whom she homeschools) and books to write, on top of all the regular "mom" and "wife" stuff she has to do.

But that's the thing:  making homemade mac & cheese and pancakes from scratch are her "mom" and "wife" stuff.  She could do these tasks an easier way, and be well-justified.  She could tell her family that with her new cookbook and her new cooking show, she needed to cut a few corners to fit everything in her schedule.

But of all the "mom" and "wife" tasks that a mom needs to do, feeding one's family is probably the most important.  And it's such a great way to show love.  And so she cooks the very best way she knows how, taking very seriously her role of "mom" and "wife" and not letting it get lost in all the other titles she wears, like author and blogger and TV personality.

Most of us wear a lot of hats.  Whether you're a parent or not, whether you're a spouse or not, you're some combination of friend, employer, sibling, child, employee or volunteer.  But "busy" is no excuse for doing anything less than our best.   If I know a healthier, more delicious way of making dinner for my family, I shouldn't be taking the easy way out.

If we give our best to our jobs, our hobbies, or when it's time to impress someone, why wouldn't we give our best to our families... to the daily, sometimes "mundane" ministries He has called us to?  Everything He has called me to deserves the best of me.

"Whatever you do, do it heartily, 

as to the Lord and not to men"

Colossians 3:23

The Pain of Personal Responsibility

Romans 12:18

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone."

New International Version

"If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, 

live peaceably with all men."

New King James Version

"If possible, to the best of your ability, 

live at peace with all people."

Common English Bible

"Do your best to live at peace with everyone."

Contemporary English Version

"Do everything possible on your part

 to live in peace with everybody."

Good News Translation

"If you've got it in you, get along with everybody."

The Message

"If possible, live in peace with everyone.  

Do that as much as you can."

New International Reader's Version

"Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone."

New Living Translation

"S'il est possible, autant que cela depend de vous, 

soyez en paix avec tous les hommes."

French

"Soweit es irgend moglich ist und von euch abhangt, 

lebt mit allen Menschen in Frieden."

German

"Hafið frið við alla menn að því leyti 

sem það er unnt og á yðar valdi."

Icelandic

"Make shua you do everyting you can fo live good wit everybody wit aloha, an no go agains each odda."

Hawaiian Pidgin "Da Jesus Book"

Man.... if there's a harder command in the Bible, I don't know what it is.  It practically says that.  It practically says, "Yup, its hard.  Do the best you can."

Sometimes it's me.  Sometimes it's them.  Always it's hard.  And no matter how you read it, there's no getting around it. 

On the other hand, all He's asking is that we do our very best.  And isn't that what we're supposed to be giving Him all the time anyway?

~ "Love the Lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul 

and with all your strength and with all your mind, 

and love your neighbor as yourself." ~

Luke 10:27

A Touching Moment

"when they had crossed over... 

all who touched Him were healed"

Matthew 14:34...36

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I love noticing "timing" and "connections" in the Bible.  Like when I realize that this event came right after that event and hmm.... isn't that an interesting "coincidence".  There are hundreds.... or at least dozens? of those connections those, especially in the gospels.  Sometimes the "chapter and verse" numbers can do us a disservice, by causing us to stop reading at a certain place, or to think that just because two paragraphs are separated by space, they were separated by time, too.

On the other hand, those little numbers are a big help, otherwise I'd be forced to tell you that today's verse is on page 1045.  Of the particular version of the Bible I happen to be looking at today.  Good luck finding that in yours...

So the event timing that I noticed today in Matthew was concerning Peter walking on the water.  That's such a great passage about courage, and faith.  At Jesus' command, Peter walked to Him across the water, but then he came to a realization of the wind and the waves, and he began to sink.  He cried out to Jesus to save him.  Jesus did so by reaching out His hand to Peter.  Now, remember that part for a few minutes.

After they climbed back into the boat, they crossed over the water, and landed at Gennesaret.  And pretty soon, people were coming to Him, bringing their sick.  And what did Jesus do to heal them?  He touched them.  He reached out His hand to them.  As a matter of fact, all they had to do was touch the edge of His cloak, and they were healed.

When Peter had panicked, and cried out to Jesus, all Jesus had to do was say, "Oh, you're fine.  Just stand up straight."  But He didn't.  He reached out to touch Peter, and in so doing, He did more than just keep Peter from sinking ~ He healed him.  He healed Peter's fear, and his faithlessness, and verse 31 says He did so immediately.  All Peter wanted was to not drown, but Jesus had more in mind than that.

I love that Jesus expressed love through touching, but more than that, I love that by touching, He healed. I wonder if it was even possible for Him to touch someone, and not bring some kind of healing.   And so I think that if we ask Him for help in one area of our lives, He will do more than that.  If we're afraid of drowning, He will not only save us, but give us strength and increase our faith.  We can't reach out for His cloak, but we can pick up His Word, and in it, we'll find the healing we need ~ whether we know we need it or not.

~ "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" ~

Matthew 14:31

Once upon a time ~ and always

"I am the Lord, I do not change"

Malachi 3:6

I love to study all the different words and phrases that describe God.  Like King, Shepherd and Judge.  But I'm thinking today of how many of those descriptions of Him are verbs.  He is a God of action... of doing...

He is the Creator; continually creating ~

       "Then God said, 'Let there be light...' "
              "Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth grass...' "
                       Then God created great sea creatures... 
                          and every winged bird..."

Surely you don't think that He's all done creating?
                     

He is the Protector ~

       "David said, 'It is God who avenges me... 
                               He delivers me from my enemies"
               and, "my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow
                  of Your wings I will make my refuge, 
                  until these calamities have passed by."

Surely you don't think that He's no longer protecting?


He is the Giver of wisdom ~

       "God said to Solomon, "Because you have not asked riches
            or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies... 
            but have asked wisdom and knowledge... 
            wisdom and knowledge are granted to you."
              Solomon said, "God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy 
                 to a man who is good in His sight."

Surely you don't think He has no more wisdom to give?

What He did, He still does.  He does not change.

~ "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever"

Hebrews 13:8