I have never been one who could follow a recipe precisely. Most of the time that hasn’t been a problem, so it comes out less sweet or needing salt, no big deal. However there have been so many times that I missed a critical ingredient or tried to do my own thing and it came out horrible. I can’t count the number of baked goods I have had to throw away over the years because no one would eat it and yet I would continue to make the same mistake over and over and tell myself, “Why cant you just follow the recipe!?” There have been times however that I messed up pretty bad and unexpectedly it came out amazing! Shocking!
[If you didn’t catch my recipe analogy here yet, today the Lord visited me with this. He has given me the recipe to a successful and happy life- the Bible. So why can’t I seem to follow it precisely? 🤪]
When I think about the analogy of baking, the mixing together of ingredients I think of Romans 8:28;
“All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”
When I mess up, when my mistakes and my sin looks like it is spoiling the outcome of the beautiful cake I was making, the Lord comes in and says He will cover those, that He will work with my fear, my doubt, my shame, my sin, my self-righteousness, my lack of perspective and every dark thing in me whether I can see it or not- and He will ensure that cake comes out good and pleasing to Him in the end!
The truth is we have such a narrow perspective and understanding of the big picture that we simply cannot ensure our own success. We must trust the Lord to add what we are missing and to wipe away what we added that was wrong.
We must trust Him in knowing the perfect temperature our lives must be set to get HIS desired result in us. We must also remember that He is not looking at what we will produce on the exterior. The way God measures our success is by our love. He looks at my heart and says, “This is the critical part I wish to perfect.”
“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
The Lord isn’t waiting for us to get it together so our business or ministry is successful. He isn’t waiting for our family to become the picture perfect church going family. He is much more concerned about the molding and shaping of our hearts and the outcome of a bride that has been made ready.
Recently I have been asking the Lord what my purpose is again, why am I alive? And then this morning the worship band played this song and I was rocked to the core. This part, “there’s gonna be a wedding, it’s the reason that I’m living, to marry the lamb.” I’d like to share this song with you and invite you to find yourself at His feet again with me.
Father, would you take me to that place again, at the cross where we first met. Would you bring me to my knees so we can talk. Would you show me your heart and what really matters to you and rid me from the anxieties of the world and the endless striving that builds up the wrong thing which you are not looking for. Mold me and make me, shape me into your image, take my heart and tend to it today that I may be found a pleasing and perfected bride on that day. Amen.
More than ashes
I'm more than what these ashes say
They will fade away when He comes for me
By grace, through faith in Christ I'm saved
I am not the same when He looks at me
I am the rose, the joy for which You died
And this I know, I move You with delight
And when my heart condemns on every side
I take refuge in the truth: I am the rose to You
My life is more than meets the eye
I'm hidden now in Christ and I'm one with Him
My love is real before His eyes
He's ravished by the sight of one glance from me
I am the rose, the joy for which You died
And this I know, I move You with delight
And when my heart condemns on every side
I take refuge in the truth: I am the rose to You
I am the rose, I am the lily
I am Yours, I'm Your beauty
There's gonna be a wedding
It's the reason that I'm living
To marry the Lamb
I'm more than what these ashes say
'Cause they will fade away when He comes for me
My love is real before His eyes
He's ravished by the sight of one glance from me