“The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” Matt. 13:33
Lord Jesus … Bread from Heaven and Bread of Life (John 6:22-29)—starter, yeast, leaven … I’m thankful for all the carbohydrate and bread images you chose to tell us more about yourself and your Kingdom. Irrespective of our personal gluten and wheat choices—this parable is powerful, timely, and so encouraging.
This dear woman mixes a little yeast (sourdough starter) into enough wheat to yield 40-60 pounds of dough. That would have been enough for 60 loaves of bread and about 480 hearty-slice sandwiches. This story is awesome on many levels. She was obviously thinking about providing bread for a lot of people.
Her heart was bigger than her bungalow, your presence bigger than her pantry, her vision bigger than her kitchen, and her “table” was as big as your Kingdom. She had confidence in the permeating, transforming presence of the right leaven.
She didn’t own a bread factory, but as the Storyteller—you want us to see how belonging to you puts us in a bigger Story than we realize—a Story pregnant with hope, and as big and loving as your Kingdom. Our “labors in the Lord” will never be in vain because your labors for us were perfect, once-and-for-all, and finished. Hallelujah!
One Day the entire earth will be filled with your glory, as the waters cover the sea. The “leaven” of your Spirit, the yeast of your lovingkindness, the first-fruits of your Kingdom, the “starter” of your resurrection will prove to be the “finisher” of your commitment to make all things new. Hope, generosity, and kindness are the order of this and every day. So Very Amen.