I’m not a baker, but Jesus gives an illustration about God’s kingdom that even non-bakers can understand.
When a baker makes bread, he puts a bit of yeast in the dough. What does the yeast do? Two things. First, it spreads throughout the dough. Second it transforms the dough. It makes what would be flat, hard, unleavened bread, into a bread that is fluffy and tasty.
The kingdom of God works the same way.
When we plant the yeast of the gospel in people’s hearts and by faith people embrace it, it starts to spread throughout their entire being, and transforms them into a whole new person.
Their way of thinking changes, their behavior starts to change, and everything becomes new.
Paul puts it this way,
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (II Corinthians 5:17)
The same happens with the kingdom of God at large. We are not going to transform this world by political means, by fighting for changes in rules and laws. I’m not saying we shouldn’t pursue these things. Certainly in a democracy, we should take advantage of the rights we have to fight for change in our society.
But we are kidding ourselves if we think that changing the laws are going to change human hearts. Even if we were to outlaw homosexual marriage, it would not stop people from engaging in homosexual behavior. Even if we were to outlaw abortion, people would still find a way to end their pregnancies.
The kingdom of God comes one heart at a time. As God the Holy Spirit transforms hearts one by one, starting with us, and then the people that we touch, then and only then will we see his kingdom spread, transforming our nations.
The question is, what are we doing with the gospel? Are we letting it transform us from the inside out? And are we sharing it with those around us that the Holy Spirit may start his work in them as well?
May our prayer always be,
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)
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