Along the lakeshore in Michigan, apple-picking season is winding down. Over the years, our family has ventured into the u-pick orchards to fill bags with ripe apples. It’s a joy to see and hear families with their children building memories among the trees.
On crisp autumn days, the aroma of the orchard is wonderful. A sweet, spicy scent rises from the ground along the tree rows. This sharp smell comes from apples that have fallen and begun to ferment. Yeast occurs naturally on apple skins, and as the fruit breaks down into the soil, it creates an environment where yeast can thrive and multiply. Though tiny, it can have a significant impact.
A sprinkle of yeast mixed into bread dough touches every part of the loaf as it rises. It’s an essential ingredient in the comforting smell of bread baking in the oven. Jesus used the metaphor of yeast in a positive way in this parable:
“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough” (Matthew 13:33).
Jesus also used yeast as a warning. In Matthew 16, He cautioned His disciples about the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Their errors remind me of the challenges our students face. In prison, misinformation about God, distorted theology, and twisted interpretations of Scripture are common. Some of these voices can sound convincing, but if you listen carefully, you may find they are not grounded in truth.
This spiritual challenge isn’t unique to incarceration—it is universal (2 Peter 2:1–4). But within a prison setting, it’s especially difficult to distance oneself from misleading voices. Cellmate assignments, crowded conditions, and movement restrictions can all make this even harder.
False or misleading teaching can be found anywhere, and we need to stay alert (Matthew 7:15). Keep encouraging others in their desire to grow in biblical truth (2 Peter 3:18), and remind them to compare what they hear with what Scripture actually says (1 John 4:1). If you’re talking with someone about faith, invite them to share what they’ve been hearing and make space for their questions. Encourage them to pray for discernment and for God to reveal truth as they continue to grow in understanding (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (John 8:31–32).
Just as yeast and soil pathogens break down fallen apples until they collapse with a “squish” underfoot, false teaching can weigh us down. But when we are grounded in truth, we won’t collapse—we will be set free.