Romans 5:12b – Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (NLT)

Yeast rolls are a sumptuous delight when served piping hot. In fact, when served at a restaurant, I could make my meal on them and would almost choose them instead of a high-quality steak. There is just something about the fluffy texture and invigorating taste that separates them from biscuits.

I remember how Mom would occasionally make yeast rolls from scratch. She would knead the dough, carefully mixing in the yeast. Then she would roll out the finished product and cut it into circles. Placing them in a pan, she would cover them with plastic wrap and let them sit until the following day. What happened next was amazing. A flat piece of dough transformed itself into a potentially full-bodied yeast roll.

I was amazed how a small amount of an ingredient like yeast could affect dough. Yeast is intensely permeating. According to Paul, sin is too. He connects Adam and Eve's sin in the Garden of Eden with the entire human race. Their sin brought spiritual death to them and everyone else.

The mustard seed is a small seed that, like yeast, can transform itself. In Matthew 17:20, we find that Jesus compares it to faith and says that if we have even this small amount of faith we can move mountains. Since I've never moved a mountain by telling it to fall into the sea, I often wonder about my faith. Fortunately, God always steps in where I fail. He is known for giving second chances.

But how are yeast, the mustard seed, and my faith connected? Though my faith may be small, using it when requesting God's assistance results in forgiveness that is as equally thorough as my sin. That is wonderful news.

Prayer: Thank You, God, for the permeating yeast of Your grace that covers all our sins and shortcomings. Amen.

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About the author:

Martin Wiles <mandmwiles@gmail.com>
Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
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