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. – (1 Corinthians 5:8)
Keeping the Festival, was the commemorating and celebrating of the Hebrews preparation for their exodus from slavery in Egypt when they were commanded to prepare bread without yeast, because they did not have time to wait for it to rise. (NIV footnotes) The old yeast represented various sin. Paul was exhorting the Corinthian church to get rid of all wickedness, and walk in sincerity and truth. Ultimately, Paul was contending with the believers in Corinth to not tolerate flagrant sin among believers within the church body. Just as a bit of bad yeast will contaminate the entire batch, so too will intentional immorality that is being allowed to continue among the body of believers. Our charge is to walk in sincerity and truth, and to help hold one another accountable to steer clear of “old yeast“. May we be faithful to follow our Heavenly Father, and allow His Spirit to lead us to walk in the light of His truth.
of old yeast come in;
for the Lord warns us,
before we begin.
Steer clear of malice,
and all wickedness;
trust Him in the truth,
the Lord’s righteousness.
Help one another,
to walk where He leads;
allow not sin’s snare,
to disrupt right deeds.
For the Lord is good,
He’s faithful to stay;
present beside us,
for all of our days.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that in You, we may be as bread without yeast; sincere and full of truth. Thank You that though this is nothing that we can accomplish on our own, that as we trust in You, You keep us from the “old yeast“. Forgive us for the malice and wickedness within us, and help us to give You access to everything. May we be fully submitted to You, so that You can cleanse us from all that would hinder us from shining brightly unto the world. Teach us to trust You more. Lead us to love as You so tenderly love each of us, so that many may come to know the transforming power of Your truth. Be glorified, O God, as we seek to stand in sincerity and truth. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.
Because of the tender mercy of our God, …the rising sun will come to us from heaven. – Luke 1:78