I enjoy baking. I bake a lot: I bake for special occasions; I bake for my children, grandchildren, and friends.

It was a day like any other day when I got a call from my daughter. She asked me if I could bake a cake for her, saying that she would need it as soon as possible. I was still on the phone when my mind quickly gathered together a list of all the ingredients that would be needed to create the cake.

After I hung up, I searched through my refrigerator to see if I had eggs, butter, and all the other ingredients. I did. I quickly mixed them all together and placed the pan with the batter into the oven. After the cooking time had expired, I opened the oven door, and to my horror, my eyes beheld a flat cake: I had forgotten to add the leavening agent –baking powder!

This incident made me think of what Jesus said: “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:6 NKJV) He was talking about how our actions can affect others in this world.

1 Corinthians 5:8 “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.” (NKJV)

Galatians 5:7-9 “You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” (NKJV)

We all make mistakes. We will all fail at something sometimes within our lives. But God Himself has given us His gift of the Holy Spirit to help us each and every day to live pure and holy lives before Him. In the same way that a little leaven leavens the whole lump, may our lives bring a taste of God’s kingdom into the lives of those around us.

Prayer: Father God, by the grace and power of Your Holy Spirit, may we become influencers for good in this world of woe. May we share Your good news with a world in need. Amen.

Rosemary Hagedorn Rosyhagedorn@gmail.com

Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada