I Corinthians 5:8
“Therefore let’s celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
We’ve already written about the topic of leaven and how it’s the sin in us. Paul gives a little bit more description in this verse. He says it is the leaven of malice. That is so descriptive. First off the word leaven makes us think of baking bread and how when we put the leaven within, it causes the bread to rise. It’s a great image but unfortunately he’s talking about something sinister, sin in us.
Hebrews 12:15 also gives a description of evil within, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.” This concept comes up from time to time. Like everyone I have struggles in life and some of them come from other people. This is also quite common. Unfortunately the tapes in my mind keep replaying about how I have been treated unfairly.
I have learned that I need to forgive these people even though they haven’t asked for it. Sometimes it’s appropriate to talk to them and work out the disagreement. Other times it’s not a good idea. Solomon addresses this in proverbs 9:8, “Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.” it’s like getting marriage counseling but only one spouse attends. It’s not the best but it’s the best we can do.
Forgiving another is challenging. Particularly if it’s not someone you can talk to. There are times I will have to control my thoughts and emotions and bring them to the cross and ask for forgiveness multiple times in a day.
Another practice is clinging to forgiveness by faith. The way this works is when I feel anger rising I pause and recite that I’ve already forgiven them even though it doesn’t feel that way. What I further do is praise God for allowing me to having forgiven them. I literally praise Him. This has been a big deal. This is what it means to walk by faith.
Forgiving another isn’t easy. Sometimes it’s impossible for us. Peter brings up this topic in Matthew 18:22,23, ‘Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.”‘ Peter thought he was being generous by saying seven times. Jesus’ answer we must always forgive. Now that doesn’t mean we trust that person. It also might mean that we don’t associate with them. But those are different topics.
What happens if I let the root of bitterness remain? The second half of the Hebrews verse describes it, many are defiled. How does that work? If we allow the resentment to remain it leaks out of us. When we’re discussing this person our negative attitude may be transmitted. The listener may adopt our attitude. We might be a little more forward and gossip about this person. That’s worse. This causes divisions within our group. Clicks form. Love isn’t ruling. This is sin.
Lord, help us to be forgiving people. It’s one of the big points of being a Christian. If we aren’t forgiving we might not be a Christian or one in disobedience. Thank you Lord that you help us to forgive. Thank you that you seek to remove any leaven or root of bitterness.