A Little Yeast

Scripture Reading 5:1-8

Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

Observation

Paul really pulls out all the stops now in chapter five. As we have said the Church in Corinth has some significant issues. Sexual immorality was one of the issues and not that it can be worse but what was happening amongst the church was worse than that seen in the world! Now not only was it happening but it was also being tolerated! Paul is appalled, and calls for the church to address the issues. In our very individual western world we have lost the understanding that what one person does impacts the whole community. Paul uses the illustration of yeast, just a small amount goes into the dough but it leavens the whole batch. It permeates through all the mixture just as does, sin that remains undealt with.

Application

What sin do you know is in your life that is not dealt with? Confess this sin to God and repent. What sin do you know of that remains in the church? With love and grace and with the assistant of leadership, confront the person and address the sin.

Prayer

Holy God of all, I humbly confess my sin to you; I am deeply regretful of my actions and have failed to follow your will. Help me to change my life and to live as you would have me live. Holy God help me to boldly and in love and grace to address sin in the church and to not allow the sin to remain and damage the whole church.