Feast
When my son was a toddler, the only thing he wanted to eat was chicken nuggets. Chicken nuggets were easy. Chicken nuggets were safe. Chicken nuggets never disappointed him. Luckily, his tastes have matured. In fact, when I want to try a new restaurant, he is the one I call because I know he will be up for the adventure. He has learned there is more to life than chicken nuggets. Other foods not only nourish his body, but they are fun and exciting. Sometimes he tries a food he doesn’t like, but he learns from that experience and makes a better choice the next time.
Hebrews 5:12-14 compares our spiritual maturity to that of an infant who can tolerate only milk until he is ready for solid food. God desires this movement for us; He wants us to partake of the feast He has prepared for us so we can be strengthened by it as we grow. So, what keeps us eating chicken nuggets when a gourmet meal is right there at the table? Is it busyness, selfishness, laziness, fear?
What are the things we tell ourselves to justify our inaction?
I don’t know where to start.
Maybe when my kids are older I will have time.
I just don’t have the discipline or the wisdom it takes to read the Bible.
I don’t have the skills to do what God is asking me to do.
What will happen if I start sharing with others and they find out about my past?
What if I let others down?
What if I let myself down?
What if God asks me to do something hard?
We allow ourselves to believe we are satisfied with only milk when really what we are craving is solid food.
Make no mistake, our salvation comes from grace, not by works, but Jesus didn’t just come for our salvation, He came that we “may have life and have it to the full.” Maintaining this life-giving relationship requires work on our part and when we allow apathy or fear to keep us from growing in that relationship, we miss out – BIG TIME!!!
Let’s linger on this thought for a moment – There are over 7 billion people in the world and The Creator of the universe desires to have a deep, personal relationship with each one of us. How cool is that? God wants to have conversations with you through prayer. He has given us his Word so we can get to know Him and He chooses us to serve alongside Him as we do the good works He has prepared in advance for us to do. He wants us to stretch and learn and grow and He wants us to take what we learn and share with others. He wants all this for YOU – not just your pastor, not just your friend who seems like she has it all together, not just that amazing Christian speaker – YOU!!!
One of my favorite promises in the Bible comes from Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” This verse gives me confidence as it assures me that when we genuinely seek Him, God shows up. Will you hang on to that promise with me? Will you lean into it the next time fear threatens to keep you from growing in your faith? When those excuses start to play in your head, will you remember God’s words instead?
You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13)
When we seek God’s kingdom first, our priorities become clear (Matthew 6:33)
God has given us the exact gifts He wants us to have (Romans 12:6)
God has made you a new creation; the old is gone (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Even when we fall, we can rise again (Proverbs 24:16)
We can learn great things from our mistakes (Psalm 119:71)
God can do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)
Don’t settle for chicken nuggets, there is an entire feast just waiting to fill you up.