Yeast Adds Flavor and Helps Dough Rise

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5: 5-7

 Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed[d] and he himself[e] will be saved on the day the Lord[f] returns. Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.[g] 

Scripture Commentary: Yeast adds strength.

Yeast is a powerful ingredient. It’s added to flour to increase its size. Paul uses yeast as an analogy to explain how sin, if not addressed, will spread to the entire flock. If we are aware of a wrong and do nothing, we become part of that sin.

We are all sinners; however, we were all different people before we accepted Jesus Christ and repented. In 1 Corinthians the believers of the church of Corinth had not confronted sin. They ignored the problem. Paul writes to them to tell them, out of love, not vengeance, to deal with the situation.

God’s yeast is the Holy Spirit.

With prayer and God’s help, we are to do our best in love. However, if the person or people refuse to change and continue to let Satan lead them, we must cut them out of the flock. If allowed to stay, they will eventually contaminate it. If the member(s) are put out, they may realize the wrong they have done, repent, and return to serve the Lord.

It’s like the return of the prodigal son when the lost in Christ return. Yeast’s purpose is for good. When we work and do what God has for us, we will spread His gospel. God’s yeast is the Holy Spirit and He has placed it in each of us.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 Corinthians 5

Read Other Commentary from 1 Corinthians:

Do You Believe Christ is Raised From the Dead?

Where Is the Wise? Search for Wisdom

We Are All Important To God

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3: 6-9

I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.

Scripture Commentary:

No one person is more important to God than another. There are no stars in God’s family. We are one with God, our Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ.

God has given each of us a gift. How, or if, we use it is up to each of us. One of Paul’s gifts was to plant seeds of the gospel in people’s hearts. Paul was a pioneer who brought salvation to the lost in Corinth along with Apollos. Both were important.

The church in Corinth was financially well off. They were more focused on worldly values and not on the true spirit of God. We encounter this problem today when we follow the preacher, not God’s message. There are a lot of churches that fall apart once a pastor leaves a church or dies.

We are to respect our pastor but not put him or her on a pedestal. Remember, there are no superstars in God’s House. There are only workers to carry the Gospel to the world.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 Corinthians 3

Read Other Commentary from the Book of 1 Corinthians:

Husband and Wife: Keep God in Your Marriage

The Lord Offers You A Seat At His Table

We Will All Stand Before Christ

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5: 6-8, 10

So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

Scripture Commentary:

You stand at the station, waiting to go home. How do you spend that time? Do you do nothing or are you using your time productively? Use this example as an analogy of your life. How are you spending your life? Are you advancing your own message or spreading the Gospel of Christ?

Stand for God.

God has given each of us an assignment. Do you know yours? Talk to God; read His Word (The Bible). Stand for God. Although we can’t see Him, we can talk to Him, and He talks to us through The Holy Spirit.

For those of us who have a relationship with God, we know that death is not the end but the beginning. Eternal life is the gift God has for His followers; however, God’s gift of salvation is not free. One day we each will give an account.

Jesus’ death and resurrection has made us whole.

Love one another, help one another, and be obedient to God. He knows we are not perfect and that we will sin; however, when you sin, ask for forgiveness. Don’t take pride in false, worldly values. Jesus’ death and resurrection has freed us from Satan’s hold on death.

Free at last. Thank God!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

2 Corinthians 5

Read Other Commentary from the Book of 2 Corinthians:

God’s Grace Is Sufficient For Me

Examine Your Spiritual Life Today

God Has Not Abandoned You

Scripture : Jeremiah 2: 13, 29

13 “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all! 29 Why do you accuse me of doing wrong? You are the ones who have rebelled,” says the Lord.

Scripture Commentary:

God asks the people in Jeremiah 2 why He has been abandoned? The question is still relevant today. God further asks how has He wronged the people. He has loved them, and freed them from slavery from the Egyptians. God forsakes no one. It is we who forsake God when we put self, or self-serving things, before Him.

Think. Has God forgotten or left you? These verses compare the relationship with God to that of a marriage. Why would you seek worthless things rather than God’s love? The only lasting security is found in God, not in yourself. Do not let temptation distract you from God, the Father.

Verse 13 references “cracked cisterns.” A cistern is a pot or vase that holds water. A broken cistern is useless. If you have denied God, you are like a broken cistern. You can hold nothing. Be a vessel for God so He can fill you with His love. Carry His gospel throughout the world.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Jeremiah 2

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Jeremiah:

Trust God Who Can Do All Things

What Message Does God Have For You?

The Lord is Compassionate and Merciful

Scripture: Psalm 103: 1-2, 8-9

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.

Scripture Commentary:

We get angry with a person or a group of people and won’t let it go. Why is that? God not only forgets; He forgives and is compassionate and merciful. So, if we ask God to forgive us, why is it so hard to forgive others?

If we’ve truly surrendered to God, then we can forgive and forget. If not, then we haven’t truly committed to God. We need to think about everything God has done in our lives. He has forgiven our sins, healed our diseases, redeemed us from death and given us His love and compassion. And we have a chance to be with Him forever.

We get all this, and all He asks is to be faithful to Him and love one another. Let go of the past. God has. We have a clean record moving forward.

If you believe in Jesus Christ, follow the path He has given. You are fragile but God is all powerful. He knows your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t use your weakness to justify sin. Ask God for his forgiveness, wisdom, and spiritual strength to guide you through your life.

Thank God for His Son, Jesus Christ, and His love.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Psalm 103

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Psalms:

Blessed Is the Person Who Walks With God

The Lord Is My Mighty Fortress, My Deliverer

Trust God At All Times

Scripture: Proverbs 3: 5-7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

Scripture Commentary: God gives us the choice to trust Him.

Do you fully trust God or only partially trust Him? When do you turn to Him – all the time or when you run into trouble? Most of us do our own thing our own way and over the course of time, the mistakes pile up. God gives us the gift of choice; we choose when to call on Him.

Learn to trust God.

God does not force himself on us. He’s just there for us. We learn to trust Him. The learning curve is short for some, but there are those who never learn to put their trust in Him. God is a better judge than we for what’s best for us. We may not get what we want but God gives us what is best for us.

We must never try to think for God or discount what He is doing in our life. His ways are not our ways; His time is not our time. We must acknowledge God in all our ways. This means turning everything over to Him.

Don’t rely on yourself. Put God first in your life. Make Him a vital part of everything you say and do. Trust God completely, without question.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Proverbs 3

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Proverbs:

Avoid Sexual Sin: Steps to Take

Let God Help You Make Decisions

The Lord Watches Over the Path of the Godly

Scripture: Psalms 1: 4-6

But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Scripture Commentary: Associate with godly people who build you up in God’s Word.

We will come in contact with all types of people; some godly and some satanic. Who you befriend and follow determines not only where and how you spend your life here but also what happens after your human life ends.

Will your path lead to your destruction? Will you go to heaven or to hell? Do you surround yourself with people who worship God and the Son, or Satan and the unbelievers? Are those you hang with working to build you up with the Word of God or are they trying to tear down God’s Word?

The more we study and live in God’s Word, the more fruitful we become. Don’t allow those around you to ridicule God. Be discerning. A person of God will draw you closer to Him. Don’t be like the chaff that is blown by the wind and becomes dust. Be like the tree by the river, being fed on the Word of God.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Psalms 1

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Psalms:

Into Thine Hand I Commit My Spirit

God’s People Must Live Together in Unity

Lay Up Your Treasure in Heaven

Scripture: James 5: 1-3

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!Your riches [a]are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 

Scripture Commentary:

James is telling us why we are so concerned about what we’ve accumulated here on earth. You can’t you take the “treasure” – the clothes, money, cars, houses, etc – with you when your time on earth is done.

What good will your earthly treasure do you in heaven or hell?

We see the treasures of past pharaohs and kings. They weren’t able to take it with them – it’s still here! So what does it really mean to be rich or poor? What have you done with what God has given you? Did you help others or did you keep everything for yourself?

Jesus tells us that everything is in the heavenly kingdom.

Your earthly treasure is not required. James proclaims the worthlessness of riches, not the worthiness of the rich. Therefore, spend your time spreading the Gospel of love and forgiveness.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

James 5

Read Other Commentary from the Book of James:

Be Humble – Do Not Judge

Can A Man Have Faith Without Works?

And the Lame Are Healed

Scripture: Acts 3: 2-3

And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to [a]ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 

Scripture Commentary:

Most of us know the story of the lame beggar who asked Peter and John for money. In return he was healed. We see how Jesus, through Peter and John, heals this beggar.

How many times has Peter and John seen this person asking for money and did they ever give him alms in the past? The beggar was placed at the entrance to the temple for years. So why this time was he healed?

Go back and read Acts 2. There you see that the disciples received the Holy Spirit after Christ’s death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit empowers the disciples not only to spread the gospel but also to perform miracles. The same Holy Spirit is here with us today.

Have you called on God’s Holy Spirit to guide you in your life? If not, why? God is with us as He has been since the beginning to time. To love God is to accept His Son Jesus Christ and to follow Him.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Acts 3

Acts 2

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Acts:

Call On the Name of the Lord to Be Saved

Saul, why do you persecute me?

We Are All Sinners Saved By Grace

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1: 15

15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 

Scripture Commentary: We are all sinners.

Paul calls himself the chief of sinners because he knew we are all born sinners. Paul was originally known as Saul. He was a soldier for the high priest and his duty was to capture, imprison and even kill all the Christians he could find. Saul was a person on a mission and he was focused.

On his way to Damascus, Jesus stopped him and asked ‘why are you persecuting Me?’ Saul asked, “Who are You, Lord?” Jesus answered, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

God forgives and forgets our sins when we turn to Him.

We all have been Saul, and because of God’s grace, we have become Paul. No matter what you’ve said, done or thought, God forgives and forgets. So don’t go through life thinking you are so bad that God will not forgive you. Don’t think you are worse or less; a sinner is a sinner.

God loves you.

The more you understand God’s grace, the more you know of His love. Humility and gratitude will become part of your lifestyle as you grow and become closer to God.

Are you on the road to Damascus or have you detoured to be on the road to Jesus Christ? We are all sinners saved by grace.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

1 Timothy 1

Acts 9

Read Other Commentary from the Book of 1 Timothy

Spiritual Wealth

Jesus Came Into the World to Save Sinners Like Me