Catalyst

I am not much of a baker. I loved homemade baked goods, but do not care to do the baking myself. 

You see baking involves chemistry and fractions and attention to detail and precise timing. I am good at attention to detail but the rest, not so much. 

When baking you have a list of ingredients, each must be added at just the right time, in just the right way, in just the right amounts. That is chemistry. And it must be ideal if the finished product is to be just right.

I tried to bake bread a few times. It's the yeast that will make or break your end product. Yeast is the catalyst in the recipe.

Yeast that is too old, too warm, or too cold will cause your product to fail. However if the condition of the yeast is good, it won't take much and your bread will raise and turn out so good. 

In Galatians 5:9, Paul talks about leaven (yeast.) in the context of this scripture, the leaven that permeates the whole lump of dough IS NOT an ideal situation. In fact, the "yeast" here is a bad thing that infects a spiritual event. 

One person can be a catalyst in another person's coming to the truth that leads to salvation. And one person can be a catalyst in another person NOT coming to the truth that leads to salvation. 

A bitter root, a hindrance, bad leaven can be a spoiler. 

The Bible warns against these and even goes so far as to tell you how to identify them. By their fruit you shall know them.

Bad fruit and good fruit lists are found in Galatians chapter 5. 

I hope and pray that I/we are walking by the Spirit. I hope and pray that I/we are bearing the fruit of the Spirit. And I hope and pray that I/we are a catalyst for good.

cat·a·lyst

ˈkad(ə)ləst/ noun

1. a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.

   • a person or thing that precipitates an event.