The Leaven

 "It is like yeast...worked all through the dough."  Luke 13:21 NIV

In this short parable, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God with yeast, or leaven, that permeates the dough that it is placed in. In an imperceptible way, the yeast changes the quality of the dough.  It is interesting to think of the difference between unleavened bread and leavened bread.  Unleavened bread is tougher and tastes more of the grain that it was made with.  Leavened bread is lightened with air bubbles and has the added flavour of the yeast making it more enjoyable to eat.  Christians filled with love cannot help but  affect those around them just as the yeast affects the bread.  It is not a question of the leaven only influencing part of the dough, all the dough is eventually changed.  God's love expressed through his people is unstoppable in its progression through the world.

Thank you, Lord, for your love.  I pray that the leaven in me will stay active and alive. I see so many ways in which Christians have brought hope to the world: education, medicine, governance that brings peace and above all else the everlasting hope of living with God forever.

The Lost Coin

 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one." Luke 15:8 NIV

In the Parable of the Lost Coin, a woman loses one of her ten coins.  She searches diligently and finds it and then invites her friends to share in her joy of recovery. Jesus is comparing lost people to coins.  A coin, even if it is lost, does not lose its value.  A dime that is lost is still worth ten cents.  However, one cannot use it for anything productive until it is found.  So it is with people.  A person always has worth as a soul that God created in his image, but if that soul is "lost" then it is not useful in building the church.  When someone becomes a Christian, all heaven rejoices in their salvation and restoration to God, not only for the individual but also for the larger impact that the person will have in the Kingdom of God and in the world.  Christianity is never just about the individual.  It is always about the community of believers and the world as well.

Thank you, Lord that we get to share in the celebration of found people.  You remind us that all people are made in your image but that we also have free choice to follow you or not. Let us be diligent in helping with the search for lost souls.

Weary

 "You were wearied by all your ways, but you would not say, 'It is hopeless'" Isaiah 57:10 NIV

How sad that many who are "weary and heavy laden" don't recognize that there is relief from their weariness.  Jesus offers a life that is full and abundant, with hope for this life and the life to come, but people sometimes just want to keep beating their heads against the wall, not willing to accept the fact that it gets them nowhere.  Before repentance can happen, people need to see the need for salvation. They need to realize that there is no hope for a future by continuing on in the ways of the world.  Pride, selfishness, greed, anger only lead to destruction.  Morality without love does not lead to peace.  Jesus offers us the only real hope because it is only through Him that we truly learn to love God and our neighbours, and that is the only way to have a happy, satisfying life.

Lord, when I feel weary, let me ask myself why.  Is the weariness because I have lost sight of your love? I pray that my eyes will stay focused on your salvation and the hope for all eternity.