Matthew 13:33 - The Kingdom of Yeast

Recently, I've revived the use of my mom's bread making machine. I like dense, hefty bread and found a recipe for whole wheat bread, but it wasn't a recipe designated for this particular machine. 

The recipe called for two teaspoons of yeast. I had a little bit from a fresh packet, but the other packet had an expiration date from the previous year. I used it anyway, but then started wondering if the bread would turn out okay.

The bread machine has a tiny window on top. I don't know why they bother with the window. You have to shine a flashlight into the window and you might see something--if the window isn't steamed up with condensation.

When I took the bread out of the pan, it hadn't raised nearly like a previous loaf of "French bread." The proof would be in slicing and tasting it.

In one of His briefest parables, Jesus said, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” (Matthew 13:33, New Living Translation)

Even though it was just a couple teaspoons, even though I couldn't see it working, the yeast did exactly what it was supposed to do and the bread texture was perfect. Now if I can only remember the salt next time!

Father, even when what we do seems small and untraceable at times, we trust you to bless all our efforts for the sake of Your kingdom to come. In Jesus' Name, Amen