Building with the gospel
The devotions for the coming week are taken from LCA International Mission’s 2024 ‘40 Days – a Lent Devotional and Prayer Guide’ and are written by mission partners around the world. This year the devotions have been written by members of our partner churches focusing on the theme ‘40 days with the Storyteller’. LCA International Mission invites you to pray for God’s global mission and churches beyond our borders. You can download an electronic copy of the ‘40 Days’ guide at the LCA International Mission website or request a printed copy by emailing lcaim@staging.lca.org.au or phoning 08 8267 7317.
by Marey Sundaraj
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The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened (Matthew 13:33).
Read Matthew 13:33
‘Pau’ is a Chinese bun that is enjoyed by everyone in Malaysia for breakfast or tea time. The dough is made with flour, yeast, salt, sugar, vegetable oil, water and baking powder. After kneading, the dough is left to stand for one to two hours, giving time for the yeast to work through the dough and bring it to rise. Then the dough is punched down, the preferred filling is added into the pau, and it is then steamed for consumption. This is how just a small portion of yeast is used and spreads throughout the whole dough, fermenting in such a short time.
Our God, who loves us and is all-knowing, sent Jesus Christ so that through his death and resurrection, we be brought into the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven started small, built through the ministry of the prophets and the disciples, with Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19). The good news of Christ is that we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, which brings salvation to all whom God calls. The gospel impacts the world as does the yeast in dough. The yeast is in small quantity, yet it impacts and works through the large amount of dough.
As Isaiah 55:11 says, ‘So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it’. So, it is with the preaching of the gospel. When the gospel is shared, it works in the heart of each person, bringing them into repentance and faith in Christ’s saving grace. The joy of the Holy Spirit and the gift of salvation prompts us to carry the gospel into the world through words and action. This we see in the lives of the apostles and early church believers, which resulted in the extension of the kingdom of heaven throughout the world. The yeast in the parable, which is the gospel message, secretly and irresistibly has transforming power, hence we as God’s people need to go into the world to preach the gospel. God’s will is that the church, through the power of the Holy Spirit, will continue to work for the extension of God’s kingdom. Let us arise and build. All praise and honour to God!
What do I do with the gospel message that has been entrusted to me?
Christ Jesus, bless the work of the Lutheran Study Centre, Malaysia, as they serve students who are training to be pastors in the Lutheran churches in Malaysia. Amen.
Marey Sundaraj is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia.
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