Leaven is an image Jesus uses with both positive and negative meanings. Last Sunday we listened to leaven as an image of the Kingdom growing within a person. Here, the leaven is that of the Pharisees and Sadducees— pride and ambition. Repent if you find these vices in you.

Peter receives the gift of knowing who Jesus is. From yesterday’s reading, God is to receive the glory for the gift. Yet Peter seems to take the gift in a prideful manner, presuming to question Jesus in the first prediction that Jesus was going to suffer and die. Similar to the challenge to Peter about having his feet washed at the Last Supper, the name that Peter has just been given, “Rock,” is quickly changed to “Satan” in the hopes that Peter will be shaken into belief and obedience.

Are you impetuous as Peter, quick to take in the leaven of pride?

Matthew 16

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Losing life to saving life v. 25

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Matthew 8 to 18.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.

Imagine a child disinterested in the gift of a toy. The parent says, “Well, if you don’t want it, I’ll give it to the child down the street who will love to have it.” Sometimes this causes a fresh interest in the toy. Verse 11 is Paul’s way of saying something similar with respect to the Jews; he hopes that a holy jealousy might quicken desires in them to embrace the Good News.

If only this chapter were carefully meditated upon, the ages-long, “anti” in semitism might have been changed to “pro.” Instead, the child down the street who receives the unwanted gift comes back to bully and taunt the child who originally received it.

Do not boast about the gifts God has given you. Rather humbly and fully receive them. Allow your expressions of wonder and praise for God to increase until your whole being is living the final verse of the reading.

Romans 11

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Root holy; branches holy v. 16

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Paul’s Letter to the Romans.

For all the Firestarters in the original version, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these Firestarters with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.

Tap on the image for a video meditation on Psalm 30.

Place the grief over the loss of the Temple in the Book of Lamentations against this song attributed to David at the dedication of the Temple. Sadness and joy are set against each other in this psalm, with its message of ultimate joy for those who trust in the Lord. Surely, this prayer comes from David’s recollection of the triumph over Goliath, and the sadness of Saul’s destructive jealousy.

Whatever emotions you are experiencing as you come to this psalm, they are all present as a collage of verses. Link up with the ones that are taking place as you begin to read, allowing the Spirit to transform all your feelings into an immense joy in God’s presence.

The Hebrew word for “joy” in verse 11 is rinnah, meaning a joy that is so strong that it sends the person into a whirling dance. The Lord wants to give you joy—intense, explosive, dance-like, and expanding. Get ready: this kind of joy can come for you, even when you get up in the morning!

Psalm 30

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More
Example: Weep at night; joy in morning v. 5

We continue to follow the Psalms in numerical order.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information