Leaven

So, I've been up to my elbows in bread the last two days, and it gave me some time to ponder the New Testament teachings on leaven. I sat down here to write about them and decided to look up the exact verses I was thinking of in my E-Sword program, and then I thought maybe I'd better read a few commentaries on these verses, and now... well, it's way more complicated than I have the time to relate here!
So, use some good Bible software (or several Bible commentaries) and look up a couple verses like Matt. 13:33; 16:11, Luke 13:21 and Galatians 5:9. Then, after reading several great thinkers' ideas about this, you can edit my blog and leave all the notes! No, really... it's not just as simple as "let a little of the bad in, and you'll get a whole bunch of bad." I like cut and dried, I like rules and regulations (as long as they make sense). I think I'd have been a good Pharisee. But really, as I always find, that's not how God operates. He's about our heart attitude, not only our outward appearance. So... long story short, let's allow Christ to be the leaven in our hearts, bringing about His will, permeating all that we do and say and think and feel by His Spirit.

And send me your notes after you've studied this a bit!

Today I re-read one of Charles H. Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening" devotionals that I had marked, it struck me once again as something I needed to hear. I thought I'd share it here and maybe the Lord will speak to you from it as well.

Continue in the Faith. - Acts 14:22

Perseverance is the badge of true saints. the Christian life is not only a beginning in the ways of God, but also means continuing in those ways as long as life lasts. It is with a Christian as it was with the great Napoleon: He said, "Conquest has made me what I am, and conquest must maintain me." So under God, dear believer in the Lord, conquest has made you what you are, and conquest must sustain you. Your motto must be, "Aim higher." The only true conqueror who shall be crowned in the end is he who continues until war's trumpet is blown no more. Perseverance is, therefore, the target of all our spiritual enemies. The world does not object to your being a Christian for a time, if she can tempt you to quit your pilgrimage and settle down to trade with her in Vanity Fair. The flesh will seek to ensnare you and to prevent your pressing on to glory. "Being a pilgrim is weary work and makes me wonder: Am I always to be mortified? Am I never to be indulged? Can I not have at least a holiday from this constant warfare?" Satan will make many a fierce attack on your perseverance; it will be the target for all his arrows. He will strive to hinder you in service: He will insinuate that you are doing no good and that you need to rest. He will endeavor to make you weary of suffering; he will whisper, "Curse God, and die." Or he will attack your steadfastness: "What is the good of being so zealous? Be quiet like the rest; sleep as others do, and let your lamp go out like the foolish virgins." Or he will assail your doctrinal sentiments: "Why do you hold to these doctrinal creeds? Sensible men are getting more liberal; they are removing the old landmarks: Fall in with the times." So, Christian, wear your shield close to your armor and cry earnestly to God, that by His Spirit you may endure to the end.