“And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” Mark 8:15
You can make a loaf of bread with only a little bit of leaven - about two teaspoons of yeast or 100 grams of sourdough starter, which contains mostly flour and water with a wee bit of natural yeast in there, but that little bit of yeast makes all the difference. It causes all the magic to happen. It’s quite amazing.
So it is with the influences around us. Jesus warned His disciples to beware of the legalists (the holier-than-though types) and the lawless (the do-whatever-you-want crowd). Be careful and always be on guard so that you are not led away from the path that God has set for you. Put your trust in Him and not yourselves. Seek joy according to His will and not the world. A little leaven does leaven the whole loaf.
Prayer: Holy God, I thank you for your Word and your guidance. Keep me in true faith. Do not allow me to be influenced by the world, but use me as leaven to lift the world around me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.