They had forgotten to bring bread and had only one loaf in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes, do you not see, and having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? Mark 8:14-18
Heat Reveals Our Faith
The disciples had just witnessed the feeding of thousands from a winner-winner chicken dinner-sized basket for the second recorded time.
Yet, here they are saying, "We brought no bread."
Then Jesus starts discussing the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod.
What? How does this fit?
Leaven is yeast. It is the yeast that makes the bread rise.
But it takes heat for the yeast to be activated.
Problems in your life are the heat that activates your responses.
How do you respond when you encounter troubles and problems?
When the Pharisees, who represent a religious spirit, were confronted by a problem, their response was to judge it and others.
When Herod, who represents a political spirit, was confronted by a problem, his response was to choose sides and separate himself from the problem.
But Jesus is challenging his disciples (and us) to have a kingdom mindset.
That is one of abundance!
If you cannot believe that He has provided a solution by faith, remember that He has in the past!
Believing isn't seeing. It is trusting in our Provider. Because through our faith, the heat causes our leaven to rise with hope!
Lord, continue to teach us Your kingdom ways. May we know that You alone will be exalted in our lives not despite problems but because of them. Amazing You are! Amen