April 19

Text: Matthew 13:33

"The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened." (NASB)

I learned many things from my experiences in Africa!  One valuable lesson was the importance of things taken for granted.  In America there are things so small that we do not notice them.  Yet, if these small things disappeared, our lives would change immediately.

For example, most of us take risen bread for granted.  Perhaps the store here might be out of bread preceding a major holiday.  However, that often only means purchasing an unfamiliar brand.

What if suddenly there was no yeast?  No yeast, no risen bread.  No risen bread, familiar sandwiches disappear; sweet breads vanish; no rolls; a reduction in desserts.  The problem is not manpower or having flour.  The problem is ineffective or no yeast.

When Jesus lived, causing dough to rise was time consuming.  You placed a small piece of risen “starter dough” in dough with no yeast.  Slowly the “influence” of the “starter dough” spread.   The spread was basically caused by dough with yeast touching dough with no yeast.  Finally all dough was touched.

To conclude all spread of the gospel originally was by evangelists is a false assumption.  Many Christians stayed where they were.  It is as essential to behave like one touched by Jesus as it is to tell about Jesus.

It takes both!  People need to see the meaning of belonging to Jesus as well as to be informed that Jesus has come.

Suggestion for reflection: Show Jesus in your behavior.  (Read 1 Peter 2:1-10.)