The Word is Yeast and Bread

Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."  Matthew 13:33 (NKJV)

The kingdom of God is very much connected to the word of God.  Wherever the word is believed and acted upon, that is where the kingdom of heaven is.  So does the parable of the yeast make sense?  The kingdom is like yeast; yeast spreads throughout the dough until all of it is leavened.  In a very real way, we can see how the word of God spreads throughout the whole world.  Even though it hasn't happened yet, we know that the word has already spread very far over the years, and we know that modern communication makes the spread of God's word inevitable.  How could anyone keep the Bible away from someone when there's the internet?  It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep the truth hidden.  So the parable does make sense, if we understand that the kingdom of heaven exists wherever the word of God is believed and acted upon.  The word of God spreads throughout the world just like yeast spreads throughout the dough.   There is no stopping it.

That is the global aspect of God's word.  How about the personal aspect of God's word?

But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' "  Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)

Jesus speaks of God's word as nourishment.  It is spiritual nourishment, for in John 6:63 Jesus says that His words are spirit and they are life.  To live spiritually a man must eat spiritual food.  A merely physical man comes and goes, but really blends into the background.  A spiritual man is in some sense more real than a merely physical man.  Spiritual life is the essence of eternal life, or the life that never fades away nor blends into the background.  But don't let me get mystical on you; I want to be very practical.  We cannot know God without the Bible.  I suppose we could know that there is a God of the universe, but we wouldn't know anything about God.  And knowing God gives us the big picture, the explanation, of the universe, the world, life and everything in general.  We see clearly by knowing God.  The Bible teaches us how to live in a way that is healthy.  We Christians already knew this, but some research has found a man and wife who stay together have more money, better children and are more content about life.  In short, they live a better life.  Its no secret that promiscuous sex is dangerous to your health.  It also numbs any sense of affection in a future marriage.  The Bible teaches us wisdom; both ultimate wisdom, like what's really important, and practical wisdom, like how to avoid pitfalls.  The Bible gives us a sense of purpose, and psychologically speaking, having a sense of purpose causes a person to be more intent, passionate and generally happier.  The Bible is the word that causes us to be courageous.  We learn that heaven exists, and that by faith in Christ death is only a passage to heaven.  Because of that, we have no reason to fear death.  If we don't fear death, which is the worst possible outcome of any situation, then we don't fear anything at all.  We do fear God.  But a Christian does not fear anything but God.  You see, in very real ways the Bible is our food.  I could get more detailed and speak of more things, but I believe I have illustrated the point.  I can use mystical language to simply state how our spiritual lives are dependent on spiritual food - the Bible.  Or I can be practical and speak of all the ways that God's word teaches us and gives us life.  Either way, the truth is very simple: God's word is life.

Globally, the word of God is the only solution and the way for heaven on earth.  Personally, the word of God is your only way to know God and only way to truly live.  Yet the word is spiritual.  Ask God to give you the Holy Spirit so that you can understand the words that come from the Holy Spirit, because it was the Holy Spirit that authored the Bible.  If the book's writer is in your soul, then you will understand the meaning of the book.  And the Bible is a book that has much much meaning.