Word@Work Luke222 - Luke 13:20-21
Published: Thu, 10/28/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
INFECTIOUS LOVE
Luke 13:20-21 Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." (NIV)
Yeast (there are over 1,500 species) gets everywhere! It is a fungus which grows wherever it can find sugars. Yeast is the naturally occurring 'bloom' on grapes and other fruit which enables fermentation of the sugary contents into alcohol and carbon dioxide. We use yeast's ability to produce gas in a flour-mix, enabling it to 'rise' when we make bread. Yeast is also very hardy; when conditions are not right for growth, spores form which are able to resist the harshest conditions and can live for ever without water. As tiny light particles, yeast can be blown by the lightest wind and carried by animals and birds and human transport. However, immediately water and sugars are available the spore germinates and very quickly multiplies.
Usually, in the Bible, yeast is a picture of impurity and sinfulness - because it gets everywhere, is impossible to eradicate and is highly infectious. But in this parable, Jesus used yeast as a picture of the kingdom of God, for the same reasons - it would get everywhere, would be impossible to destroy and wherever hearts are receptive, the grace of God will take root and grow fruitfully. Whenever the yeast of the gospel is mixed with faith, the kingdom of God grows: Hebrews 4:2 says, "For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith."
Like birds and animals (and aircraft!) carrying yeast spores, the workers in God's kingdom are often unaware of the gospel of Jesus they carry with them. Wherever they go, the seeds of the kingdom travel. Yet, for the gospel to germinate, it needs to be mixed into hearts that will believe it. Mixing gospel truth into people is not just the work of full time clergy and missionaries; it is the work of every believer whose life is fruitful in growing God's kingdom. Such followers of Jesus Christ are found in all sorts of routine employment, travelling on business or meeting strangers in the course of their work. They are conscious of their responsibility to spread the truth of the gospel and to invest time with those who are starting to want to believe. So be much encouraged ... God's kingdom is unstoppable, the gospel is still the power of God for the salvation of all who believe and you have an essential part to play in His kingdom ... be aware of it, commit yourself to kingdom growth and work hard at it wherever you find the opportunity!
Prayer: Father God. I thank You so much that Your kingdom will never fail and that the gospel of Jesus continues to be carried around the world today so that people might be rescued from darkness and have a new life in Your light. Help me to be aware of the precious seed of truth I carry with me, so that I may intentionally share the life and truth of Jesus Christ wherever I live, work or travel. For His Name's sake. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Yeast (there are over 1,500 species) gets everywhere! It is a fungus which grows wherever it can find sugars. Yeast is the naturally occurring 'bloom' on grapes and other fruit which enables fermentation of the sugary contents into alcohol and carbon dioxide. We use yeast's ability to produce gas in a flour-mix, enabling it to 'rise' when we make bread. Yeast is also very hardy; when conditions are not right for growth, spores form which are able to resist the harshest conditions and can live for ever without water. As tiny light particles, yeast can be blown by the lightest wind and carried by animals and birds and human transport. However, immediately water and sugars are available the spore germinates and very quickly multiplies.
Usually, in the Bible, yeast is a picture of impurity and sinfulness - because it gets everywhere, is impossible to eradicate and is highly infectious. But in this parable, Jesus used yeast as a picture of the kingdom of God, for the same reasons - it would get everywhere, would be impossible to destroy and wherever hearts are receptive, the grace of God will take root and grow fruitfully. Whenever the yeast of the gospel is mixed with faith, the kingdom of God grows: Hebrews 4:2 says, "For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith."
Like birds and animals (and aircraft!) carrying yeast spores, the workers in God's kingdom are often unaware of the gospel of Jesus they carry with them. Wherever they go, the seeds of the kingdom travel. Yet, for the gospel to germinate, it needs to be mixed into hearts that will believe it. Mixing gospel truth into people is not just the work of full time clergy and missionaries; it is the work of every believer whose life is fruitful in growing God's kingdom. Such followers of Jesus Christ are found in all sorts of routine employment, travelling on business or meeting strangers in the course of their work. They are conscious of their responsibility to spread the truth of the gospel and to invest time with those who are starting to want to believe. So be much encouraged ... God's kingdom is unstoppable, the gospel is still the power of God for the salvation of all who believe and you have an essential part to play in His kingdom ... be aware of it, commit yourself to kingdom growth and work hard at it wherever you find the opportunity!
Prayer: Father God. I thank You so much that Your kingdom will never fail and that the gospel of Jesus continues to be carried around the world today so that people might be rescued from darkness and have a new life in Your light. Help me to be aware of the precious seed of truth I carry with me, so that I may intentionally share the life and truth of Jesus Christ wherever I live, work or travel. For His Name's sake. Amen.
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