The weather in early spring appears to engage in a tug of war between cold and hot. I watch the snow gradually disappear from the yard and wait with anticipation for the first robin. To me, seeing that bird means the arrival of spring.
But this year spring brings a serious problem—moss. Fourteen years ago I thought the occasional outcrop of moss between the interlocking bricks attractive. Now the moss has grown so prolific that it has almost covered some of the bricks. If left unattended, my patio will eventually disappear.
Moss reminds me of yeast in the Bible. There are two ways of thinking about it, however. Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. Once he told them, “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough” (Matthew 13:33, NIV). Here the yeast is good because it represents the spread of the Gospel and the growth of God’s kingdom.
In contrast, on another occasion, Jesus chided his disciples for not understanding his warning: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6, NIV). They thought he was upset because they had forgotten to bring bread with them on their boat ride. After Jesus reminded them of his miraculous feeding of the five thousand and the four thousand, they finally understood. “He was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:12, NIV).
What kind of yeast are you? Is Jesus using you to enlarge his kingdom? Or is Satan ecstatic because you are encouraging others to remain in their sin and rebellion against God Almighty?
www.tale2k.com
Showing posts with label spiritual lessons from nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spiritual lessons from nature. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, February 01, 2010
The Problem of Multiplying Snails
I never realized snails would become a terrible problem for me. It started when I wanted a plant in my 20-gallon tank. Taking a leaf from the 10-gallon tank, my husband found an identical plant at the fish store. Shortly after I had planted it, I noticed a snail.
Within a couple of weeks these creatures had infested the tank. My children insisted I needed to clean the tank thoroughly and start over with new rocks. I preferred searching for snails daily and then disposing of them. It did not work. The more I caught; the more I discovered.
When the tank began to leak, I knew I must buy a new one. If I was going to start over, I figured I should buy rocks as well. It would be silly to transport my problem from one tank to another. Instead of buying a plant, I took a clipping from the 10-gallon tank and planted it in the new tank. Why did I not do that in the first place? Perhaps God wanted me to learn an important lesson.
Thinking how quickly the snails multiplied reminded me of yeast. Every bread maker knows that given time a little yeast will work its way through the dough and make it rise. In the Bible, God uses yeast as an example of the spread of good and evil.
Jesus told a parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough” (Matthew 13:33, NIV).
Another time Jesus said, “How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:11, NIV). Then the disciples understood that Jesus was warning them about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. In the first example yeast represented the multiplication of good whereas in the latter it symbolized evil.
I doubt I shall ever forget this episode with the snails. Whenever I remember, I shall pray that my life will influence others for good and not evil.
www.tale2k.com
Within a couple of weeks these creatures had infested the tank. My children insisted I needed to clean the tank thoroughly and start over with new rocks. I preferred searching for snails daily and then disposing of them. It did not work. The more I caught; the more I discovered.
When the tank began to leak, I knew I must buy a new one. If I was going to start over, I figured I should buy rocks as well. It would be silly to transport my problem from one tank to another. Instead of buying a plant, I took a clipping from the 10-gallon tank and planted it in the new tank. Why did I not do that in the first place? Perhaps God wanted me to learn an important lesson.
Thinking how quickly the snails multiplied reminded me of yeast. Every bread maker knows that given time a little yeast will work its way through the dough and make it rise. In the Bible, God uses yeast as an example of the spread of good and evil.
Jesus told a parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough” (Matthew 13:33, NIV).
Another time Jesus said, “How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:11, NIV). Then the disciples understood that Jesus was warning them about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. In the first example yeast represented the multiplication of good whereas in the latter it symbolized evil.
I doubt I shall ever forget this episode with the snails. Whenever I remember, I shall pray that my life will influence others for good and not evil.
www.tale2k.com
Monday, November 30, 2009
A Troublesome Beaver
Hair blowing in the wind and eyes eager with anticipation, I waited as my husband carefully guided the boat to a stop at our dock. As I walked up the hill, I pondered the year-end chores needing to be done that weekend. Up on the deck I looked with horror at the poplar tree lying on the ground close to the cottage.
My husband remarked, “It’s the work of a beaver.”
“You mean a beaver climbed up a sixty-foot hill to chop down a poplar tree?” I wailed.
Two weeks later we returned to the cottage and found chew marks on two other poplars by the cottage. One was a huge tree with a diameter of approximately twelve to fifteen inches. I had no idea beavers would dare to tackle such big trees. If that particular tree had fallen toward the lake, it would have landed on top of our roof.
I never did see the beaver guilty of causing such devastation. That beaver reminded me how the effect of our works remains long after we are gone. Paul writes to the Philippians, “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Philippians 1:3, NIV).
How will people remember you after your death? How will they remember me? I hope they remember how much I loved Jesus and trusted him for my eternal salvation. I hope they remember that I walked in obedience to my Lord.
www.tale2k.com
My husband remarked, “It’s the work of a beaver.”
“You mean a beaver climbed up a sixty-foot hill to chop down a poplar tree?” I wailed.
Two weeks later we returned to the cottage and found chew marks on two other poplars by the cottage. One was a huge tree with a diameter of approximately twelve to fifteen inches. I had no idea beavers would dare to tackle such big trees. If that particular tree had fallen toward the lake, it would have landed on top of our roof.
I never did see the beaver guilty of causing such devastation. That beaver reminded me how the effect of our works remains long after we are gone. Paul writes to the Philippians, “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Philippians 1:3, NIV).
How will people remember you after your death? How will they remember me? I hope they remember how much I loved Jesus and trusted him for my eternal salvation. I hope they remember that I walked in obedience to my Lord.
www.tale2k.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
