Imagine a friend invites you for dinner. She texts you a few hours beforehand, saying, save your appetite! When you sit down at her beautifully decorated table, centerpiece, cloth napkins and all, and she sets a plate in front of you, your mouth begins to water. The smell of mashed potatoes and brown gravy wafts in the air. A basket of piping hot rolls and butter are calling your name. The green beans even have little slivers of almonds, for goodness sakes.
But then you realize, something is missing. You look around the table. There’s no main dish! Kind of disappointing, right?
My Dad was a military man. When it comes to working, he doesn’t half-do a job. He taught me if I wasn’t going to do a job right, then don’t do it all. As a teenager, I recall expressing, okay, I won’t do it, then. Yeah, that didn’t go over so well!
God wants our best too. He wants our ALL.
“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” Mark 12:30 (emphasis mine)
I remember pondering this scripture when I was younger thinking, geez, God wants everything of me. Yes, God is kind of greedy like that. But before you get your feathers ruffled at me calling God greedy, let me explain.
Let’s think about this from a different perspective. Take a newly married couple who are enrapt in marital bliss. The young man looks at his blushing bride and says, “Oh honey, I’ll love you with 99% of my heart.”
Now do you think this will go over very well, I ask you? Of course not! The bride will want to know what her man is doing with that other 1%. Now, what if he says, “The other tiny little minuscule percent belongs to my ex-girlfriend.”
This fool better run for cover!
It doesn’t work like that, does it? A marriage means commitment and giving your whole heart and whole life. That’s the way God designed it to be. The Bible says a marriage relationship mirrors the relationship that God desires with His people. Take a few moments to read Ephesians 5:21-33. Make sure and look at verse 32. Then I’ll meet you back here.
Let’s be honest. Giving our all to anything isn’t easy. We prefer some. We can do some. We can love God with some of our heart, some of our soul, some of our mind, and some of our strength. Yeah, that’s doable!
God doesn’t want some. And yet, it’s what most of us give Him and He’s not interested.
God wants to be the main dish in our lives.
He happens to be ‘all in all’, according to Colossians 1:17. And yet God gives us the choice to put Him first. To make Him our all.
Giving God our all is something we must fight for. Why? Because He’s worth it. He gave us His very best when He gave us Jesus. We are blessed when we give our all. We have peace when we give our all. Others are inspired and pointed in God’s direction when we give our all.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not willing to settle for less than God’s best. I want ALL of God so I will give Him ALL of me—flaws too. I’m not willing to settle for a cheap imitation life. I don’t want to live on side dishes alone. I want the whole enchilada, baby!
How about you?
Go deeper:
Am I giving God all of me or am I holding back?
If you’re holding back, ask yourself why and then take it before the Lord.
Okay, dear readers. This post is just begging for some yummy main dish and side dish recipes. Hey, I think I’ll throw in a dessert one too! Just click to download a few of my favs!
Warning/disclaimer: These dishes served together are for special occasions. You will need a serious workout the day after. Remember, those who stuffeth puffeth! I’m totally joking, of course! Moderation, friends, moderation 🙂
Wishing you love and blessings,
Beckie
Comments and prayer requests welcome!
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Beckie — great unique spin on things.
I won’t settle for less than the best God has to offer. Fair trade — He gave all for me, so I will give all of me to Him!
Love enchiladas too!
🙂
Del
Del, thanks for your comment. Now that I finished this blog post, I’m hungry for some enchiladas!
I’m partial to fajitas 😊
When you and Angie come to California, we’ll take you to some ‘real’ Mexican food 🙂
Deal!
Absolutely, we need to give God our all, our main dish of ourselves with no sides excluded! Oh, how I’ve realized this so deeply with what Danny is going through right now. The whole month of May, Beckie, will probably be filled with hospital time, new surgery, and recovery. If I don’t give my all to the Lord, each and every day, I won’t have the determination and energy to deal with all that is on my plate at the moment. I’m trusting in Him, thankful for all the prayers, and so grateful for sisters in Christ like you!
Blessings!
Martha, you and Danny have a powerful testimony. I’ll continue to pray for you both. Thanks for being such an encouragement to me, dear sister!
What great word pictures! Thank you, Beckie, for this beautiful reminder to love Jesus with all we have.
Meredith, thanks so much for stopping by Spotlight and for your kind comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Blessings!
Good post:) Yes, I want to feast at His table daily. Overflowing abundance:) blessings, denise
Denise, thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I agree with you! Amen and amen.
Beckie, this was great! I LOVED both your humorous and and very real examples of not giving our all! If we want ALL of God, we should definitely offer the same of ourselves! You made a great point with a really fun post. I hope I don’t “puffeth” when I try your recommended recipes! Ha! God bless you, girlfriend! Keep giving your all, in the name of Jesus! 😊
Angela, I was in a fun mood when writing this post. I know our Lord has a sense of humor 🙂 I’m glad you appreciated it. And that pound cake…well, let’s just say it’s not called ‘pound’ cake for nothing. Thanks for your ‘sweet’ comment, sister!
Beckie, you are such a gifted writer! I’m trying to catch up, so I can share your wonderful post in a The Silver Lining! I hope you continue to write even more when you’re in a fun mood, because it’s “sweet” and it “hits the spot!” 😊
Angela, Just what I needed to hear as I head out to a writer’s conference 🙂 You bless with your “sweet” comment.
This was such a good read and a great reminder to give it all to God! 🙌🏼
Monica, thanks so much! Can’t wait to connect with you. Blessings!
Reblogged this on felixjonasadomblog.
Thanks for reblogging this post!
Wonderful perspective! Thanks for sharing your wisdom on this.
Love this analogy of giving our all in our service to God…not leaving Him as a side dish. Can’t wait to try these recipes!
Thanks for stopping by Spotlight and taking the time to comment! I have no doubt you will love the recipes as they are home cookin’ specials from my mom!
Our ONE True GOD the FATHER who art in Heaven Above HE REIGNS FROM HEAVEN and EARTH with HIS SON Jesus-Yeshua Christ!! 💕
Love 💕 Always and Shalom ( Peace ), YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann