Day #5 The Active Ingredient

THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT

Day # 5

Genesis 17:19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.”

            The active ingredient in the making of bread is not the flour, which does seem to be the star, but the yeast, which causes the dough to rise. Without the yeast, the dough would remain a sticky lump of dough. But with the yeast added to the flour and other ingredients (I am not going to pretend that I know all the ingredients for bread), the dough rises and the bread is made.

            The active ingredient in A Recipe for a Savior is not Abraham but God’s Word. It is here that we see what God is doing to bring together all the ingredients to bring the Savior for all people. But the active ingredient in it all is the Word of God. We hear the Word proclaimed to Abraham. “Sarah your wife shall bear you a son…” A son, born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age, shall continue the covenant promise of God, the promise of a Savior. But it didn’t seem possible. Could these ingredients all come together to carry this word of promise forward?

            How often in our lives do we find the word of promise difficult to hold onto? The promise that God will not leave us seems so hard to hold to as the loved one lies sick and perhaps even dying in a hospital bed. As one lying the bed, it is hard to hold fast to the word of promise that says, “I am with you always.” All the ingredients of life seem to be a mess, unable to amount anything at all. Then the active ingredient of the Word of promise is added. Will it be true? Will it help all things to come together?

            As we continue to see A Recipe for a Savior come together, we are faced with the same challenge as Abraham. “Is God’s word of promise true?” Can a little yeast leaven the whole loaf? Can that promise all come together? That active ingredient is important as we go through this Advent season. His Word is going to be added time and time again.

Prayer: Lord, it is a challenge for me to trust Your Word of promise. Give me the power of Your Spirit working through Word and Sacrament, to trust in Your promise when facing those terribly difficult times. Amen.

Deeper Thought: As Abraham was given a promise that seemed so impossible, so we are given a promise of a Savior that seems absolutely impossible. What area of your life have you had or are you having the most difficult time holding on the Word of promise?