Scripture - is the soup ready yet?

The clouds are moving from east to west this morning.  This is highly unusual for southeastern Michigan; usually the weather comes in from the west.  I noticed the clouds just as I was finishing another reading of the Gospel of Matthew.

A number of things struck me during the few weeks that I was reading Matthew.  Some involved “simple” concepts I had not paid much attention to in prior readings (e.g. “the fiery furnace” that the wicked may be thrown into, see Matthew 13: 17-50).  Others involved a few passages that have recently impacted my life.  I was reminded of one point a spiritual friend made about reading scripture.  Here’s a paraphrase:

The soup’s not ready

It smells good.  You can see it simmering.  But it just ain’t quite right until it’s done.  Until the cook says it’s ready.

You can taste it now, but you won’t get the full and intended effect and nourishment.

It’s like that with God’s teachings.  You can read a biblical passage dozens of times.  You can listen to sermons and attend biblical study groups about the passage.  You can even think you get it, can think you understand it.  But you won’t get the full and intended nourishment of it until you’re ready.

Are you ready for what God is pointing out? 

        (clip art courtesy of this site.)

and again... The Lord's Prayer

... for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him... Matthew 6:8

Jesus went on to say this [the traditional version of The Lord's Prayer] is how one should pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever.

Amen

Matthew 6:10-13

Bing or Google “The Lord’s Prayer” and you will quickly learn that 1000s of Christians, perhaps hundreds of 1000s, say this or a similar version daily.  I’m one.  And I usually say it more than once a day.

                     (the image was found here)

There is also another verse or two I recite daily.  For comfort, or as a reminder.  I also usually find myself giving thanks and praying, in a little more detail, to both the Father and the Son.  As for the Spirit, I ask both God and Jesus for increased receptivity and wisdom to the nudges and guidance given.

Does all of this help?  I'm not sure it's a matter of help, or 'merely' something I'm supposed to do... must do perhaps.  But - yes, yupper, you betcha it's a help.  A big help.  As commonly said, "God works in mysterious ways" (and I couldn't agree more.  how about you?  aren't you able to point to this, that and the other and say to yourself you knew no way, but...).

Prayer

It's helpful to give thanks to God daily.  And there are verses from the Bible that may give comfort and joy almost every day.

I'm thankful that Christ and the Spirit exist; that they are in me, beneath me, above me and all around me.  I am thankful for another morning, another day - to let go and let God.    

Doctrinally correct aka To mention God, religion and the Bible… or not to mention.

Surfing through Christian blogs, videos and such produces a wealth of information.  There’s plenty of educational and informative material along with a surprising amount to enjoy and make one smile, sometimes laugh out loud.  There’s also a lot to disagree with, and a few things to make one shudder.  The video below has a little bit of all these things.

One point asserted by the video’s producer:  Too many entertainers, and others on stage or in a public forum, are doctrinally incorrect when they speak of God, religion and the Bible.  She thinks that’s wrong and often harmful, particularly because of the [huge] audience some are able to reach.  I couldn’t disagree more.

I do agree that it sometimes appears ludicrous that a particular person, given the context of lifestyle or a particular performance, even mentions God.  One example might be a thug rapper who has just finished a piece filled with slappin bitches and hos along with other nonproductive, greedy, disrespectful and violent acts.  As to many “religious” remarks made, I also agree that one may legitimately question whether or not the speaker ever stepped into a church or opened the Bible.

Still; isn’t it better to hear something said about God or religion than hear something about devil worship, white supremacy or the like?  Isn’t it good to just hear God mentioned, rather than entirely ignored, in a public forum?  If something is said that raises a few eyebrows – well, isn’t it a positive that there may be comments and debates about the nature and meaning of God and Christianity?

If only doctrinally correct assertions about God, Christ, the Spirit and the Bible were allowed in public… there wouldn’t be too many made by those of us who aren’t preachers or theologians.  And I imagine there are many who could question much of what some of them have to say.  Hmmmm… I wonder who should decide whether or not something is doctrinally correct.  I also wonder if there should be some criteria as to whether or not a particular person was righteous enough to utter it.