Domestic Encouragement
Monthly Column by Susan Sikes

What could be better than filling your home with the aroma of fresh bread baking in your oven? Just last week I was on the phone with a friend who had just taken a fresh loaf of bread out of her oven. She commented on the wonderful smell that was filling her house. She had gotten a starter from one of her friends, and after a couple of days of preparation, it was finally time for baking. 

 

Since the Bible talks quite a bit about bread, I would like to look at some of its different aspects. First of all, you can’t talk about bread without mentioning yeast. In most areas of the Bible, yeast represents sin. However, in Matthew, yeast is an important component. 

 

He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough” (Matthew 13:33).

 

In the parable, the yeast causes the dough to increase and rise. The kingdom of Heaven is also that way. Although it started small in number, it continues to increase. As Christians, the Holy Spirit allows us to be a part of this process. When we witness in the world, we are working the flour and increasing the dough.

 

During the Israelites’ exodus, they had to escape in the middle of the night. God had just protected their firstborns with the Passover, and now He was telling them to leave immediately. He had ordered them just the day before not to use yeast in their bread. Looking back, you can see His purpose in these directions; if they had used yeast, the bread would not have been ready for the long journey ahead of them. This bread became a symbol of the protection of His people.

 

As the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years, you can imagine how scarce food was. As He always does, God still provided for them. This time, He gave them manna (Heavenly bread) to meet their needs.  The amazing thing about manna was that it came directly from the Lord, and it was a daily thing. God gave them strict orders NOT to store it up.  There was nothing they could do themselves to make this bread; they could only trust God for it. God is still the same today. He provides for our physical needs on a daily basis, but we have to trust Him for it. 

 

In the book of John, Jesus miraculously fed the 5000 with a few loaves of bread and some fish. The very next day, the crowd searched for Him so they could see another miracle. He explained to them that they should “not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life,” (John 6:27). He explained further that “the Bread of God is He who comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33). In the same way that He meets our physical needs, He is also there to meet us spiritually. In fact, He puts the eternal before the temporary.  As our Daily Bread, He provides spiritual nourishment and protection if we will just trust Him for it. When we trust Him and allow Him to work in our lives, the dough will begin to spread and others will be affected.  Have you accepted the Bread of Life? If you have, is there a sweet aroma filling your life? If not, allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life so you can be a part of the kingdom’s increase.

 

Let the sweet aroma of these dinner rolls remind you of our Daily Bread.
 

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Easy Dinner Rolls

 

1 Cup of warm water (105-115 degrees)
2 Packages of Active Dry Yeast
1 Stick of Melted Butter
½ Cup of Sugar
3 Eggs
1 Teaspoon of Salt
4 – 4 ½ Cups Unbleached, All-Purpose Flour
Additional Melted Butter (optional)

 

Directions:

 

Combine the warm water and yeast in a large bowl.  Let the mixture stand until yeast is foamy, about 5 minutes.  Stir in butter, sugar, eggs, and salt.  Beat in flour, 1 cup at a time, until dough is too stiff to mix (some flour may not be needed).  Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.  (It can be left for up to 4 days at this stage).

 

Grease a 13 X 9 inch baking pan.  Turn the chilled dough out onto a lightly floured board.  Divide dough into 24 equal-size pieces.  Roll each piece into a smooth round ball.  Place balls in even rows in the prepared pan.  Cover and let dough balls rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Bake until rolls are golden brown, 15-20 minutes.  Brush warm rolls with melted butter, if desired.