"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." 1 Peter 2:1-3
When out walking the other day, I was contemplating the good gifts of God. Gifts in which I yearn to be wrapped daily. Peace, love and joy are a few that spring to mind. Weirdly enough this pondering made me think of southern buttermilk biscuits. Yes, biscuits.
For the past, I don’t know, 20 years or so I’ve been on this quiet pilgrimage to make and eat the perfect buttermilk biscuit. A good spicy, pork gravy on top isn’t so bad either. But that elusive biscuit keeps calling my name. I’ve tasted many a biscuit from California to South Carolina and Texas to Missouri. A few biscuits found their way onto my plate in Louisiana and Georgia. None have met my dreams and expectations.
I’ve made a number of attempts to make such a mythical biscuit. I’ve even come pretty close with a famous lifestyle influencer’s recipe. The process, which took a few days, included chilling various ingredients, grating butter, and what seems to be the most important part, carefully yet not over handling the rolling and cutting of the dough. My neighbors were gifted much of my last batch which met with mouthwatering approval.
Yearning for Goodness
So here we are, wondering what biscuits have to do with God’s gifts? Well, let’s back up a bit. In our sanctification journey we’ve looked at the importance of knowing who God is, who we are in God, and knowing God’s character and promises. Then we took on the challenge of how trials take us down bumpy roads. Yet, they lead us to greater trust in how all that knowledge comes together for our good. This week we’re cooking up ways to live the life we yearn for each day.
So, let’s start this week with a question: What do you most want out of your short life here on earth? What do you yearn for each day you wake?
In the July 24, 2023 edition of CNBC’s “Make It,” therapist Charlotte Weber wrote of the nine things people want most in life.
- To be loved
- To be understood
- To have power
- To have and give attention
- To have freedom
- To create
- To belong
- To win
- To connect
If you answered my questions with yearnings such as a desire for marriage, children, money, or even the perfect biscuit, you could probably attribute any of those with something on Ms. Weber’s list. But here’s the thing, her ingredients to attaining those nine desires are all temporary. A spouse who loves you, a friend who understands, a situation where you have power and win. Getting attention and belonging may last for a day, a month or a season. And freedom? From what? There are rules everywhere we go! None of these ingredients are bad or even frowned upon by God. But they are temporary fixes.
My biscuit journey made me realize we make commitments large and small to the things of this world for which we yearn. I had to submit to the rules of biscuit making. And if I plan to fulfill my goal, I need to be obedient to that cause.
Recipe For Tasting God’s Goodness
I want to give you a recipe for the big life goals Ms. Weber revealed which, when followed, last throughout eternity. You’re probably not going to like it. But it’s a recipe that been tested for literally thousands of years and those who have tasted it all agree it is good. You might have guessed it — submission and obedience to God.
"As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16
Let’s be honest, when anyone talks about obedience and submission a little red flag goes up in our mind. Unfortunately, so many Christian teachers and pastors these days seem to blame our lack of obedience to the Lord on our western culture. Here’s a Bible pro-tip: humans have struggled with obedience since the third chapter of Genesis. We need to stop blaming modern culture and realize it’s a human problem that spans all time and location. The Israelites didn’t live in western culture yet I recall a few times where they had kings that “did evil in the sight of the LORD” and were found very wanting.
We do, however, love to compound our basic disobedience to God by being fearful of disobedience to man. Nowadays that means we’re to be a planet saving, animal loving, anti-capitalists it seems. We are asked are you using recycled containers? If not, you’re killing the planet. Have you given enough money to the homeless? They are destitute because of you! Have you ethically sourced your jacket? If not, you’ve probably destroyed an entire rainforest. The food you eat, the leisure activities you enjoy, the car you drive – you’re being called every day to submit to new worldly rules. And if you don’t comply, then you can’t possibly be a good person and be happy! How could you, you planet destroyer and animal hater? Submit to the modern rules and feel good about yourself!
You may throw up your hands and call the recipe for eternal happiness and joy impossible. But as Christian author Kevin DeYoung writes in his great little book, Impossible Christianity, “When genuine discipleship becomes impossible, hell often becomes impossible as well.” In other words, when we believe failure is the norm, we forget the reality of hell.
Lasting Goodness
And I don’t know about you but hell is not what I’m yearning for when I’m done here. I also know I want lasting, deep peace and joy. It’s true that what we all yearn for in the now will only be a shadow of what is to come in eternity. Jesus reminds us that He knows we can’t do everything perfect and need to lean on Him all the time. We seek holiness as a life goal and know it’ll take the Holy Spirit to do the work in us. Urging us, teaching us, and even admonishing us.
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14
The world wants to tell Christians God’s only ingredient for the world is love. They conveniently leave out that God is also to be feared and revered. And separation from God, which is what Jesus was experiencing on the cross when He said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me,” is what we call “hell.”
Our disobedience tells God we don’t revere Him and instead revere ourselves. We want to be the author of our own recipe. So, while we have declared our faith in Jesus Christ, we continue to turn away from the holiness He so desires for our life. To the unbeliever it must be confusing to see us acting this way!
This holiness is not impossible. And while perfection may be our eternal goal, in all honesty we won’t achieve it here on earth. But like my biscuit making we need to keep thirsting and hungering for it.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6
Next week we continue our look into obedience and submission, seeking the perfect recipe of holiness.
This week’s question: When you hear obedience and submission, what is your reaction?
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