Self-discipline

I am such an "after the fact" kind of girl. You know, in the moment, on the spot you can't think of the good things or the right things to say, but when you're away from the situation all the thoughts you wish you would have had at that moment come flooding over your brain. "A day late and a dollar (or $350) short" goes the saying. Sorry for the financial joke. Are you with me? Or am I alone in this? What I'm saying is that I am not quick witted... I need time to ponder my thoughts and words. Maybe that is why I am more of a writer than a speaker. God knows me inside and out... better than I know myself.

All of this is coming from the whole "yeast" deal. Ok, ok, I'm still on that. I have resources at my access... I had an unanswered question... I couldn't just leave it alone for heaven's sake. So I did find my answer after all... and this, I'm sure, is not the complete answer, but it is an answer that satisfies my curiosity and brings my thoughts to a new level.

Yeast is symbolic of sin in the case of my last verse in Leviticus (12:13). Therefore, the absence of yeast was important because it was viewed as unclean or sinful. When making offerings to the Lord, the Israelites' ultimate goal was to be as pure (holy) as possible. There are notes in my son's study Bible in the book of Exodus (12:15) where they are talking about the rituals involved in the first Passover. They read: "remove all the yeast from your houses". Yeast was later, many times, used as a symbol of sin, such as "hypocrisy" or "malice and wickedness". Before celebrating Passover, the observant Jew today conducts a systematic (often symbolic) search of his house to remove every crumb of leavened bread that might be there. Further digging led me to 1 Corinthians 5:6-7 where Paul is referring to yeast or leaven bread as symbolizing evil or sin, and the church in Corinth is called on to get rid of the yeast of sin because they are an unleavened batch of dough - new creations in Christ. Paul is calling on the people to become holy in conduct. Christ, our Passover lamb. (1 Cor. 5:7) In his death on the cross, Christ fulfilled the true meaning of the Jewish sacrifice of the Passover lamb.

This leads to the new level of my thoughts and how this ties in with a thankful heart. The Jewish religion and culture is extremely self-disciplined and dedicated to their rules of conduct in worshiping God. To focus such effort (cleaning the entire house for a single crumb of bread) for the sake of making oneself more pure in the light of God. Self-disciplined. It is a virtue that has fallen by the wayside, don't you think? It seems that popular culture is more about excuses for bad behavior than actually trying to have good behavior. God pleasing behavior. Have we fallen that far away from God... from self-discipline? I find it outstandingly commendable and something worth emulating in our walk with Christ - the ancient and current religious discipline of the Jewish people. I am learning as I devote more of my thoughts to Jesus (through self-discipline), my heart becomes more and more at peace. I struggle much less with anxiety and stress as I give my issues, in prayer, to Jesus. He is forever telling us to do this: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28) And "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27) Or how about, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Pet 5:7) These are not just words from Jesus, they are promises. Test them, test Him, turn your troubles over to His gracious, loving, capable hands, and as you do this more and more you WILL FIND PEACE. And that is something to be thankful for.

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b