“A little leaven ferments the entire lump.” ~ Galatians 5:9
Leaven refers to the yeast (or fungi) that is used in baking bread. It is that small portion of yeast used to ferment the dough throughout causing it to swell and rise and become light before it is baked. Leaven produces a gas that lightens the dough or batter and changes the whole texture and composition of the dough. It is so potent that it only takes a little to ferment a lot of dough and make a whole lot of bread.
In our scripture text, leaven is used as a figure of speech to describe moral and spiritual sin that causes corruption in the virtue of our sanctified souls.
Another way to put it is to say that a little sin corrupts the soul and it corrupts it through and through – fermenting it and changing its character, attitude and appearance.
A little sex outside of marriage changes a virgin into something the Bible calls a fornicator/adulterer. This cannot be undone physically no more than yeast can be removed from the bread once it is baked.
A little lie makes one a liar.
A little stealing makes one a thief.
A little premeditated killing make one a murderer.
A little sin makes one a sinner.
It is the little things that get us. And it is the little things that can cause the most lasting damage to our souls and even affect a generation yet unborn. Just ask King David what happened to him and his whole family because he lusted after and had sex with another man’s wife and then had the man killed. It all started out so small and it seemed as if there would not be any long-lasting consequences to this little sexual indiscretion. But nothing could have been further from the truth.
I am sure that there are countless stories and testimonials out there that could attest to the fact that they just got caught up in some mess that started out small, innocent and inconsequential but turned out to be a life-changer and a burdensome existence.
It is the little sins that get us.
Therefore be always vigilant and cautious of the seduction of the little sins that you think you can handle or hide.
Big problems sometimes rise out of little indiscretions.
“A Little Dab Can Do You In”
“I am Just Trying to Keep It REAL.”
~Bishop O.W. Prince
“Rediscovering YHVH'S Authentic Ekklesia" 