Your Hope Is Like Yeast
Photo by Nadya Spetnitskaya on Unsplash
One Life Lived In Hope Transforms Another And Another…
by Eric Elkin
“To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.
”
On Tuesday, a "shelter-in-place" order inadvertently made its way across the Minneapolis-St Paul metro area. The police intended to target a specific neighborhood; instead, the warning went out to the entire metro area. Phones lit up and buzzed, consuming many people with anxiety and fear.
Modern technology is a beautiful thing. We can warn people almost immediately of threats to their safety. These services help catch criminals before they can do more harm. Yet, at the same time, they call attention to our vulnerability. There was a violent attack on Tuesday morning. The attack occurred in a quiet neighborhood across the street from a church. Violence can occur at any time, even in areas we deem safe.
I was in the middle of a doctor's appointment when the alarm was published. Our conversation about the "shelter-in-place" order interrupted a discussion about the growing number of sick people. The clinic lobby was so full people were sitting on the floor. Many were suffering from influenza, RSV, and COVID. It seems vaccines cannot completely eliminate infections.
The journey from my house to the clinic was no picnic either. A report informed me that Russia accused Ukrainian forces of using a dirty bomb to justify the potential use of nuclear weapons. The report on Russia followed a discussion about whether the United States should send troops to help stabilize Haiti. Maybe I should have just "sheltered in" at home.
“Hope is like a bird that senses the dawn and carefully starts to sing while it is still dark.”
The world is so full of warning signs it is a wonder we can get through the day unharmed. So, where do we turn for the shelter that endures? Not a temporary holding place, but one that provides enduring security.
I invite you to read the scripture passage today like an announcement published on your cellphone. The message tells you where your protection exists. The words could be reduced to a simple text, "Your hope is like yeast." Do you feel secure now? What could guns and bombs do when put up against yeast?
On its own, yeast is nothing. Yet, even a small portion of yeast mixed with flour starts a chemical reaction bringing flour to life. The kingdom of God seems invisible in a world of physical threats. However, the kingdom comes to life when mixed with the human condition. Like a chemical reaction, one life lived in hope inspires another life, then another, and another. Before you know it, the world around you is overflowing with abundant life. Try it out, you may be surprised.
Click to read Luke 13:18-21
Click to pray: Luke 13: 18-21
Reflection Questions:
What recent news alarms your soul and attempts to rob you of hope?
How can “the yeast” of God combat hopelessness and vulnerability?
Where can you find this yeast?
What does living in hope look like?
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