God is Not a Side Dish https://beckielindsey16.com/2017/05/02/god-is-not-a-side-dish/

 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!

Mom’s Yankee Pot Roast

Loaded Potato Casserole

Southern Pound Cake

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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