Purge out the old
Therefore, purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 1 Corinthians 5:7
This scripture reminds me of an old saying that goes: “One bad apple will spoil the whole bunch.” It meant that you would pick up the bad habits of those you allow into your inner circle. If you are running with the wrong crowd, you will look and act just like their undesirable ways. In contrast, if you are around the right kind of influences, you will begin to act in the same way as your good role models.
Today’s scripture is talking about the ingredient of leaven used for raising bread. It is like yeast. You only need a little bit to cause all of the dough to rise. Paul encouraged the people of Corinth to get rid of the bad leaven, their old sinful ways and become new by picking up a new way of living. The way Paul instructed them was by following the example of the Lord Jesus. He told them to get rid of their malice (spite and hostility) and wickedness/iniquity and replace it with sincerity and truth.
This is good instruction for us today, also. There are many examples of daily habits around us. At work and at school most of us are subject to an abundance of spite, hostility, destructive words and bad behavior. If we do not recognize and guard against the pressure of fitting in, it will not take long at all before we look and act just like everyone else in the room. I’m not saying you have to go through your day with your eyes closed and your hands over your ears, but what I am saying is determine not to look and sound like those who are far from God. Make a stand for what is right and have an encouraging and positive outlook in every situation. A bad attitude is like a lump of leaven, and it quickly spreads through the entire room. However, the good news is a good heart and outlook can have the same effect in the right direction.
There is one other way I like to look at this scripture and that is what the Word of God can do in your life. It is like a little leaven that can leaven the whole lump. As you daily take in a little of God’s word each day, it will spread throughout every area of your life to raise it up to the highest degree.
Today I want to encourage you to get rid of the bad habits in your life and replace them with some good ones. The best place to start is by putting the Word of God in each day. Set quiet time aside to read and think about what the Holy Spirit wants to minister to you through that word. Spend time talking it over with your Heavenly Father. Don’t rush through your time together, savor it and give the yeast some time to rise. A little leaven of the Word of God will enrich your whole life.
Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 5:1-8
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!
2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed.
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
The Daily Dose 