Yeast and Dough

Week 9 Day 4

Numbers 28-29; Mark 8

Mark 8:17-21
 ¹⁷ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸ Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
   “Twelve,” they replied.
   ²⁰ “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
   They answered, “Seven.”
 ²¹ He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

It's really interesting that Jesus just talked about the yeast of the Pharisees - the corrupting lifestyles and attitudes that they had that led them to not have an intimate relationship with Christ, and Jesus connected it with the disciples not having to understand the miracles He just did - feeding the 5,000 and 4,000, etc.

What's happening here?
.. Possibly, the disciples were very focused on the "busyness" of their lifestyle - following Jesus around, assisting Him in the ministry, and doing what needed to be done WHILE forgetting the real meaning of why there were there assisting the work of Jesus.   
.. The yeast then is - their lifestyle being so busy doing work (as busybodies) but failing to see the real meaning of what's going on (like the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000).  
.. They've forgotten what just happened or they have experienced - a miracle of feeding those many people.  
.. They resorted back to the carnal things and did not take to heart what was more important.

It's possible that we also get too busy doing the work of the Lord or perhaps, the things that we know are good, something that pleases God, or something that we know we should be doing (aka, ministry, or encouraging people, etc...) while forgetting the purpose of why we do these things or experience things.  

May we not forget the "miracles" that God has already done in us as He did through Jesus with the disciples during His time.   May we not be corrupted by the lifestyles and attitudes that will work through the dough like yeast - those that may seem small but we know could eat us up (such as the busyness of life, failing to see the lessons of the miracles God has done in our lives, etc.)

// BELLE:

.. I admit, I have been a busybody.  I need to get my act together and remember/reminisce the lessons God has already taught me with the miracles He has done in my life.
.. I need to set my time of meaningful quiet time with Him and if I have to, say "No" to the things that will keep from having this meaningful and quality time with God.
 .. I will not allow any "yeast" to come and corrupt my lifestyle which will cause me to forget and understand what God has already done.  

// Lord, You know my heart.  Please forgive me and I pray that I will be better today in all that I do.  Help me to say "no" to what is not urgent or even necessary or the things that could wait at it's own time and season.  Please guide me as I know you would.  Help me to respond to this because I need to and I want to because I love You!  In Jesus' name, amen.