City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“Again he asked, ‘What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.’”

Luke 13:20-21 (NIV)

Reflection

When I was growing up, I watched my mother make cinnamon rolls and coffee cake for Christmas breakfast (I “helped”). Both recipes required a basic bread dough. I don’t know how those in first century Palestine got their yeast (active dry yeast packets were invented in 1943), but today, yeast has to be activated in warm water then mixed into the dough (the gluten and CO2 from the yeast are worked together to make soft and fluffy bread). But that’s not all. The dough had to be left in a very warm (not too hot, or it’ll bake too early) environment for at least an hour so it will rise, then the dough is punched down, shaped, baked at least 350°F, and made into delicious treats. Even with modern-day conveniences, it’s a lot of work. 

Why did Jesus say sixty pounds of flour? Why not save time and counter space and use one pound (three and a third cups)? Why two hundred seventeen and three fourths cups? Kneading one loaf (about a pound of flour) takes about fifteen minutes, multiply that by sixty, and you’ve got fifteen hours of upper body exercise! Working the kingdom inside of you takes a lot of work and time. Like yeast, God’s Word has to be incorporated into us, sometimes He puts us in less-than-ideal situations so we can grow, and growing takes time. Even after growing, we might get deflated. But after all the trials and tribulations, the end result is something wonderful that brings others true joy and advances the kingdom of God.  

Application

What stage of baking are you in right now? Activating the Word? Incorporating the Kingdom into your life? Waiting? Deflated and pulled in multiple directions? In a hot environment? Or a combination? After all of the the time and effort, we become something amazing, and the kingdom that we worked on the inside will show on the outside. 

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to work the Kingdom of Heaven inside of me so it can be seen on the outside. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.