Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

1 Corinthians 5:6-8

Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast-as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough. Do not think that there is nothing wrong with a bit of boasting. In fact, boasting is a sign of pride. The Bible mentions that pride is the root of all evil. It causes our heart to stray from God and we become dependent on ourselves instead of being dependent on God. Pride causes us to lift ourselves up above others and disregard others. All of this comes as a result of the fall. When Eve sinned, by eating of the fruit of the tree, it was because she wanted to be equal with God. When men built the Tower of Babel, it was for them make a name for themselves. Such is the result of sin.

As such, Paul said that boasting is not good. The old leaven represents self-centered and self-exaltation. No matter how much we disguise it on the outside, the old leaven would ultimately cause our hearts to stray away from God and separate us from God as well as cut off our relationship with others. But thanks be to God, Jesus Christ is the Passover Lamb. He died on the cross for us, to save us from our sins and rescue us from our sinful nature. The Passover brought two benefits for the Israelites: first, to bring the salvation of the people of Israel, to rescue them from the judgment of God; and second after the Passover, the Israelites were released from their Egyptian slave masters, the true freedom. During the Passover, the Israelites had blood painted on their doorframes. When the destroyer saw the blood on the doorframes, they could not crossover to kill the Israelites' firstborn.

Therefore, this blood has rescued Israel from the judgment of God, so that they may have freedom. In the same way today, Jesus Christ is the Passover lamb who will rescue us from the judgment of God, and set our spirit free. As such, Paul said those of us who believe should get rid of the old yeast, and no longer live in a self-centered and sinful way. The life of Christ is new bread without yeast, which is to live for Christ and have a Christ-centered life. May the Lord help us to rise up and live a life that manifest Jesus Christ daily.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, thank you that we no longer live among the old yeast, but we live in the new yeast. Pray that this yeast will rise so that the life of Jesus Christ may be manifested in our lives. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!