Play the Puppet

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We, as humans, strive so much to be in control. It is within our very nature and God graciously has given us free will to allow us to accept or reject Him.

Is this sufficient reason, however, to assume we are to constantly and consistently exercise this free will of ours? How wonderful it is—in those all too rare moments—to be in such accord with our Savior that He seems to guide our every move, direct our every thought, channel us into Christ-like actions.

We tout our free will like it is some sort of triumphant victory we’ve attained and toil to keep it that way. When asked by nonbelievers why so many bad things happen in this world we convincingly respond with, “You know, we’re not puppets. God allows us to make choices and this world is rife with bad choices… and we pay the consequences.”

As true as that statement may be, perhaps it’s time to rethink our stigma of being a “puppet”. We’ve conditioned ourselves to believe that our own ability to make choices gives credence to our role as this world’s inhabitants… but, really, wouldn’t it be better to more puppet-like and let God finesse his will on us and for us? I believe our control issues have restrained us more than it has empowered us. Total submission is scary and daunting indeed, but the outcome—when God is maneuvering all the strings in harmony—is far greater than we could ever hope to accomplish on our own, with our own choices.

So be grateful for your free will and let God smile with your choice to follow Him. But do not be intimidated by the fact that God can direct your path and guide your actions. Go on…. be a puppet. Be God’s puppet and you’ll never be disappointed.

Greg A. Morton
© 3-11-2008

Rise to the Occasion

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Those of you who bake will understand this concept quite easily. Using leavening, or yeast, is essential if you wish your product—be it bread, muffins, etc.—to rise and have some “airiness” to it. These little unicell fungi are amazing organisms and, considering their size and simplicity, create an incredible amount of transformations.

The Bible speaks of leavening quite liberally throughout the Old Testament. Having bread that is unleavened illustrates the ideology that we should, as a character of meekness and honor, be humble and unadorned… without any “filler” or superfluous nature. Nearly every time the Lord asked his people to follow rules of obedience, bread was unleavened. (e.g. Ex 34:18)

The New Testament uses it more symbolically. The very nature of leavening is described in numerous passages as a metaphor for the spreading and rampant transformations that can, and do, occur within the church… and usually in a negative connotation.

In the first three gospels Jesus warned the disciples about the “yeast of the Pharisees”, speaking of how their hypocrisy and deluded understanding of the world can spread. Paul also spoke about the dangers of not holding accountable sinful members of the church: “Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are.” (I Cor 5:7 NIV).

Whether communicated in a literal sense or metaphorically, the fact that sinful attitudes can spread and cause havoc is a truth we need to be mindful of on a daily basis. The next time you bake or simply enjoy a piece of bread, let it be a positive reminder of this wise principle.

“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.” (I Cor 5:8 NIV)

Greg A. Morton
© 3-03-2008