“Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ, our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Cor 5:6-7; KJV). Leaven or yeast is used here to compare the power of sin with leaven. We have been justified or made righteous in God’s sight, by the sacrifice of Christ at the cross; he redeemed us or paid the price for our sins (Rom 3:24).

But we do still sin (1 John 1:8)?  Just a tiny bit of sin, if it is not rooted out, can cause a huge amount of damage to us and others. A woman added leaven to 3 measures of meal and the whole of the meal became leavened or affected by the yeast (Luke 13:21). Jean makes our bread at home and we calculated that she adds 1 part of yeast for every 320 parts of finished baked bread; that yeast is powerful stuff to be able to cause that whole loaf to rise. Jesus warned of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy; they taught the law but did not obey it (Luke 12:1). They leavened the whole of Israel with their sin. As children of God, sin damages our fellowship with him as there is no sin in God (1 John 1:5). Sin clogs the channels between us and God. Sin also hurts our relationships with each other.

Ask God to show you sin in your life, be quick to repent and ask God’s forgiveness for your sins; he will forgive (1 John 1:9). As we deal with sin in our lives, we can walk closer and closer with God and enjoy more and more of the full life he lives. Don’t get condemned, this is something we all have to grow in; but the results are wonderful. Remember God loves you where you are but he calls you up higher to grow in him. 

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