A little leaven leavens the whole lump. (Galatians 5:9) Sometimes, we think that "a little bit" of something is nothing really. What is a little bit of me-time, just slacking and idling? What is a little bit of worldly entertainment, just to relax ourselves?
How about, a little bit of sin?
In the old days, when people made bread, they included an ingredient called leaven. Leaven is a yeast that makes bread rise. It creates air pockets in the dough, which end up being the tiny holes of air in finished bread. Have you ever had bread that had air pockets in one end of the loaf, and none in the other? No. Bread that has these air pockets has them evenly distributed throughout the bread. That's because when you put leaven in dough, it affects the whole loaf. (http://www.ebibleteacher.com/children/lessons/leaven.htm)
Like a little drop of ink in a glass of water...
A little bit of sin in our life will also affect our entire soul.
A little bit of sin can also spread and affect the entire church.
A little bit of sin will spread until it takes over our lives.
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:14-15)
Therefore, say "NO" even to a little!
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:26)
The word "provoke" really caught my attention. I have been giving some thoughts regarding this - that some of us might be provoking each other without the consciousness of it. However, I believe there is really no ill intentions.
It's just that recently, I find myself at the receiving end of provoking remarks. And I really find it hard to resist retaliation.
And even if I can control myself, and not be provoked, I can't help feeling all lousy and sour about it.
And so, this verse came at the right time.
Let us all pay more attention to our deeds, especially the words that we speak, so that we may not be guilty of provoking one another, albeit unintentionally and unconsciously.
Because when the harm's done, there is no 'undo' button to remove the hurt.
Let us be careful with our words and know how to say "NO" to even a little today.
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