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Following God’s Recipe for Life

I’ve been watching a reality show where amateur bakers are tasked with imitating creative masterpieces in a short span of time. The main issue for the participants is following directions. Rather than following the recipe, many skim and choose which parts to skip. Others, preferring to wing it, ignore the instructions altogether. There is a plan—a good plan—but time and time again they choose to opt out.

Why is that? I have four theories.

Time constraints

I imagine the time crunch causes them to rush rather than take a few minutes to read through the recipe and follow the instructions step-by-step.

Overwhelm

I wonder if the task at hand is so far out of their league they feel like they don’t have any hope of doing it the right way so just go for passable.

Inflated view of self

I think some of the participants see themselves as much better bakers than they are. They don’t feel like they need to follow the rules.

They think they know best

I think they assume because they’re familiar with a recipe or technique they are on the same level as the experts and don’t need to follow the rules.

While it’s easy to judge these poor souls (and the show is set up for us to do so) I hesitate because I see myself in them. How much of my time is spent winging life rather than following the plan set out for me in the Bible?

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’” (Luke 14:28-30)

This passage reminds me to count the cost of my actions before starting out—but how often do I just plunge in without any consideration?

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty “(Proverbs 21:5)

The wisdom in Proverbs warns me to avoid rushing but instead take careful steps. But what about when I’m stressed or emotional, am I taking time for diligence then?

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

I wonder how many times I move ahead assuming I know what’s best rather than referring to God’s instructions. Do I trust He has the best way forward for me and rests in that assurance?

Of course, there’s a balance between following instructions and stepping out in faith but I wonder how many times it’s more about me not taking time to read the recipe rather than being afraid to move.

The Bible is our recipe for life in Christ and if we take the time to read it, understand it, and follow what it says our lives will turn out according to His plan for us. If only living it out was as easy as watching baking competitions on reality TV.

Robyn Roste

Robyn Roste is a professional writer with blogging, marketing and tourism experience. She also has a bachelor of journalism and diplomas in media and communications and biblical studies.

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