Poulsbo Community Church

written December 7, 2011
 

When I was growing up, I used to play a game with the green peas that seemed to be served to my supper plate two or three times more often than the much-preferred corn or green beans.  I made up a little story in my mind about how the peas didn’t want to be eaten.  That’s why they rolled away when I tried to stab them with my fork.  My parents, who were not privy to the peas’ objections to being the veggie-of-choice that evening, would eventually tire of my attempts to get the peas onto my fork.  They would strongly suggest the use of the handy-dandy spoon next to my supper plate to capture the wayward peas.  Then, adopting a “get this over with as soon as possible” mindset, the story in my mind would change to how all the peas were willing to roll onto the spoon, but only if they could all go at once.  Their obvious motto was “no pea left behind.”  

Generally the supper theatre on my plate came to a close with oft-repeated parental directives:  “Stop playing with your food.  Just eat the peas.  They’re good for you!”  

Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t really a picky eater.  I was not prone to play with my food – except for those peas.  And my reward for such supper-time drama?  Cold peas!  Ugh!  The only thing worse, in my mind, than cold cooked peas was creamed peas.  The supper theatre thing didn’t work with creamed peas.  There is no sport in creamed peas, because once they are creamed they don’t roll away.  They just sit there looking sad and lumpy – not only unappetizing but also completely un-theatrical.

You’re probably wondering why I would share this somewhat embarrassing childhood story, aren’t you?  Well, I have to admit that sometimes I still do the same thing.  I can be guilty of picking and choosing what I like instead of what is “good for me.”  However it’s no longer my parents telling me what is good for me, it’s God!

As a child, following my parents’ instructions and eating those peas seemed without reward.  But when I follow the direction of the spiritual authorities God has placed over me – Christ, my husband, my pastors, my Bible study and Sunday School teachers – I have been blessed beyond measure.  

Here’s the thing – God wrote His book, the Holy Bible, for instruction of truth, for guidance, for comfort and security.  But sometimes I still pick and choose.  I admit I would not have willingly studied the Old Testament books of Leviticus or Habakkuk and maybe not even the New Testament book of Hebrews on my own.  I would have chased them around my spiritual supper plate with a fork, stabbing at them now and then when an easier, friendlier course of study led me to read a verse or two from their chapters.  But never on my own; never by the spoonful.  

One of the suggestions I’ve chased around my spiritual supper plate for years is that of reading through the Bible in one year.  The story in my mind now runs the gamut of excuses:  “I’m too busy, I don’t have time.  I’m already in a study.  I read the Daily Bread most days.  I’m reading Spurgeon, after all, sometimes morning and evening!”

Yet, I have no doubt about the bounty that awaits every person who commits to such a plan – studying from Creation to Christ to Revelation.  So I’m wondering if anyone else is ready to come along for a feast – not just cold peas, my friend, but the banquet of God’s Word, portioned in a day-by-day, one spoonful-at-a-time kind of way.

Two groups of women who meet on Tuesdays, one in the morning and another in the afternoon, for Bible study will be reading the chronological Daily Bible in 2012.  The Bible will be our workbook for the year.  We invite you to join us.  If your family and work commitments prevent you from joining us on Tuesdays, we’d love for you to be a “satellite study sister” and read along with us.  We have some chronological Bibles on hand for those who are interested.

Whether you can join us on Tuesdays or not, I pray you will seek God’s Word with more than a fork, stabbing here and there.  Rather, I pray you will approach His Word with anticipation and a healthy appetite, with your whole heart.  I can’t help but say it, my friend … “It’ll be good for you!”  

                                Blessings, Colleen

Colleen Lacey, serving with Women’s Ministries at Poulsbo Community Church

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.  Romans 15:4