Beware of the Yeast

Scripture
Galatians 5:9 A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough

Matthew 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.


Observation
In chapter 4:9-10 Paul is warning the Galatians to stop returning to weak and miserable principles which was enslaving them into works and the law. He went on to warn them to stop observing special days/months/season and years. They had probably returned to a worship of those things, as their society did; ie they were just going along with what the world was doing around them. So we get to Gal. 5:9, "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough". That is very similar to what Jesus said in Matthew 16:6 telling us to take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. God is instructing me to not let "things" take over my life.

Application
I am not a baker, but I do know when I make sourdough pancakes, the yeast I put in with the flour completely infuses the flour and water. So it is with the ways of the world. If I am not careful the "yeast of the world" can infuse me as well. So the question I have for myself, is how do I keep the yeast out, or if there is yeast/leaven in "just living" how do I keep it from reproducing and contaminating my life? I guess first of all I need to examine what leaven I have, in my life, that would be like the Pharisees and Sadducees. For example, do I watch Sex and the City because I think it is funny-BUT the leaven of the falsehood of sleeping around with out being married is infusing itself into my life, how about the Non-Christian friends I am hanging around with who live and act in complete opposition to God's ways. If I accept those into life, that Un-Godly yeast will grow and produce Un-Godly growth instead of the "spiritual growth" I desire. So I need to examine all things in my life, to see what type of growth that activity is giving me, Un-Godly or Godly.

Prayer

Father, I have many things in and around my life. Each one of those can rise up like yeast, and cause more Un-Godliness or more Godliness. I can not live in a bubble, but I can follow you closer, so the yeast/leaven around me will have less impact on me. Amen.