Isaiah 55:10-11 (NLT)
The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Never will I look at salad the same way again.
John (the Pastor, not the Baptist) continued his message on corporate growth by making an observation that went something along the lines of, “Studying the Bible is like the salad bowl story.” He went on to explain how a salad- with its spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, and so forth- is good and nutritious for the body. It gives us energy to burn, loads us with vitamins and minerals for growth, and is a small piece of the greater plan for a long and healthy lifestyle. But as we flawed humans tend to do, we’re not satisfied with that. We desire the pleasure of more, more, more. More taste, so we pile on the bacon bits. More fill, so we pour on the dressing high in fat and corn syrups. More muscle, so we scoop on the protein powder (okay, that’s sickening, but you get the point). The salad alone is adequate; we just overdo it. Make a good thing bad.
Like Jesus with his parables, John is illustrating both a physical and spiritual message with his salad metaphor. Bible study is the salad to a healthy believer. Simple. Nutritious. Healthy. Vital to our eternal well-being. What we tend to do, however, is play Captain Christian and pile on all the “extras” to enhance our spiritual stature. We make an elaborate schedule of how we’re going to study the Bible, purchase a specific commentary, research the latest fad or interpretation of the passage, read until we garner some sense of philosophical truth or revelation. Its lasts about two days, then we give up. And we won’t feel full or like we’ve got our money’s worth.
We may all splurge on the extras from time to time, but here is the point I believe John is trying to convey: To grow (as individuals and the collective body), we simply need to feed on the Scripture. Its powerful enough to stand alone, to speak for itself. We can read it and apply it without all the gimmicks and gizmos designed to enhance it. We could even read it in service or in our morning devotional and stop there. Allow its words to sink in and change us. Do what it says without the added fluff.
Reflection time in the Refugee camp. Ask yourself the question, “Is the Scripture enough?” If John stood up to preach one Sunday morning and said, “I’m only going to read the Scripture aloud this morning,” would you feel like you wasted your time in coming to service? If Jason plied to the stage wielding his guitar and confessed, “I’m just going to strum and sing straight from Psalms,” would you still worship with the same ferocity? On those days where I give you a portion of Scripture in the devotional and tell you to do something about it, do you feel let down that you didn’t get my witty and intellectually stimulating commentary?(that’s a joke people, you can laugh).
All kidding aside though, fall in love with the simple, yet eternally profound Scripture. Allow it to change you.
And never look at a salad the same way again.
