You Can’t Microwave It
I think all to often in Christian circles we view spiritual transformation as something that should always be charted up and to the right. While I wish this was true the reality is it isn’t, is it?
I love to study the life of the apostle Peter. I’ve got way too much in common with that dude.
Matt 16: 15“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it
What a huge spiritual victory for Peter. You’ve been there.
You walked away from a certain temptation.
You loved someone you thought was unlovable.
You forgave someone you thought was unforgivable.
But just a few verses later we read…
21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Listen, I don’t care where you are on your spiritual journey, when Jesus calls you “Satan” it’s a major set back. No matter how you look at it that’s a bad day.
Peter is a great reminder to me that this journey of having Christ formed in me is not an overnight deal. You can’t microwave spiritual formation.
Do you ride the same roller coaster I do?
I think we all share that roller coaster. The thing that’s crazy (in a good way) is because He is being formed in us. His Holy Spirit reveals more things that we should step away from (and we never really considered it bad).
Sorry if it kinda got off topic. This was a great post Pete.
.-= Michael´s last blog ..One Eyed, One Horned, Flying, Purple, People-Eater =-.
Yep.
I needed this reminder today especially so thanks for this.
.-= joyce´s last blog ..There’s only so many ways to say random =-.
Sometimes I don’t even get as far as the microwave…I just express intent and assume that I will be all cooked up.
.-= Lindsey Nobles´s last blog ..Message Received. Loud and Clear =-.
That’s a whole other post!
Lindsey-
That is EXACTLY how I’ve been acting/feeling lately. Pretty much sums up my conversations with God lately.
Super post. I can absolutely relate.
Following Jesus and becoming more like him is a series of next steps.
In an age that values you the speed of the microwave it’s difficult to appreciate the slow bake of an oven.
.-= Jason Salamun´s last blog ..If It Be Your Will =-.
i’m constantly saying that the problem with the West in general is that we want microwave solutions to crockpot problems.
thanks Pete, great post.
Not only do I ride the same roller coaster, but at the end of each ride, I run around to get in line again. Glad to hear that’s not being a failure. Chuck & Pete, can I quote your microwave statements? Love it!
.-= Joni Ruhs´s last blog ..The Workings of Child Minds =-.
you bet!
you know it.
.-= Chuck Harris´s last blog ..going to re:create =-.
I just laughed out loud on a bus in Miami when I read being called Satan by Jesus is a bad day. And here I was laughing at God last night when the ordering movies option was broke on “only” the TV in my hotel room. Praise God, there is no irony!
You better believe it.
I have been saying this a lot lately:
My life is like my blog stats: Up and Down and very unpredictable.
But I think a lot of that can come from a microwave faith that you talked about. The instant results that I am looking for.
Another way I have heard people talk about this issue is a fastfood faith. We are looking to get a quick happy meal from Jesus and then go about our way. Instead we are called to a huge feast.
The easiest thing is to consume consume consume, but it is not the best or healthiest thing for you.
OF course.
I wonder if it’s because they are life lessons that can’t be learned just thru books, or thru a one time event. We learn in stages, and wisdom is gained through time. Spiritual formation is messier than we’d like, and we have less control over it than we’d care to admit. We would love to tie it all up in a pkg (or a class!) and put a bow on it and say it’s done, but spiritual formation happens in the context of real life and real relationships. And that – if nothing else – is very messy and unpredictable. And we have less control than we’d like because many times we are the ones most blind to our need for transformation!!!!
.-= Jan Owen´s last blog ..I Dare You =-.
I resemble this.
Seems like spiritual formation is like baking bread in an old wood stove – put all the ingredients together, pound the crap out of the dough so it’s got the right consistency, let is sit and rise, pound it some more, get the wood, build the fire, shape the loaf, check to see if the fire’s hot enough, and then stick the pounded and and shaped loaf in the oven, etc…
I like freshly baked bread. Just not when it’s me…
.-= Michelle Brown´s last blog ..Chained Glory =-.
Yeah I’m on it, trying not to scream or hurl most days. Just this morning I was scolding my 10 year old for having a smart mouth when the Spirit poked me right in the heart and said, “It’s your fault, she has learned to talk like from you.” Ouch. She didn’t know what to think when in mid-scold I began apologizing and asking her forgiveness. Thanks for being real Pete.
.-= Mike Raburn´s last blog ..Why have you forsaken me? =-.
Don’t you hate it when God reveals that stuff.
For sure. But don’t we all? And if we don’t think so aren’t we in denial (in some way).
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Half A Year =-.
Yes, most definitely. It’s a constant battle. Easy for me to get caught up in thinking ‘doing Christian things’ such as serving is the same thing as seeking or abiding in God’s will. My community group was talking about Jonah last week. Jonah even went so far as to ask the men in the boat throw him overboard so they could be saved…while in the midst of executing a plan to run from God. Not sure if my theology is on target here but for me but it illustrates that while doing a good thing may reflect my faith it doesn’t automatically equate to me seeking or abiding in God’s will.
Every day, assuming I even make it to the top of the mountain in order to fall back off.
.-= Chris Sullivan´s last blog ..My Illusion of Security =-.
Indeed. Even within one day I ride a rollercoaster.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Lexi-ism: A #1 Please =-.
Every day is a challenge. Yes, God reveals secrets to us, but we still have the challenge to “work it out.” Didn’t Paul talk about the constant battle between the spirit and the flesh? Great post.
.-= Jaycee´s last blog ..Do You Want To Be With Me? Top 3 Reasons Why We Follow Through, NOT!!! =-.
It seems like I ride the same roller coaster on a daily basis!
.-= Becky´s last blog ..Compassion International and My Dreams =-.
Isn’t this the daily battle, live for God or live for me? Unfortunately, it’s much easier to live for myself than for God.
But what’s even scarier, is convincing ourselves that what we’re doing (when it’s wrong or even complacent) is that we’re doing it for God.
I sure am glad God cleans up our mess!
.-= Rob´s last blog ..Beyond the Guitars and Drums… What Really Matters =-.
I hate roller coasters but this is one I can’t seem to get off.
.-= Jason´s last blog ..Video from the Home Foundation Benefit =-.
I think I have a ticket that reads “Unlimited Rides on this Roller Coaster.” And I hate to mix metaphors, but my father-in-law, bless him, used to say that daily success in spiritual things depends entirely on “which dog you are feeding.”
Oh, that’s good, Mike! Thank you.
For me, sometimes it’s one step forward and two steps back. A hard way to learn a lesson, but I do learn. I’m so glad God’s not given up on me/us.
.-= Tina Dee´s last blog ..Guest author Jennifer AlLee ~ The Pastor’s Wife ~ GIVEAWAY =-.
Thanks for this post, Pete! I struggle with my self everyday on this. Sometimes, I wonder why I don’t act or feel a certain way when I think I should. But, like it says in Malachi 3:3 “He will sit like a refiner of silver…” A silver refiner sits and refines until he sees his reflection in the silver, just like Jesus does with us!!!
Most def. Really hard sometimes to see this and properly understand God’s grace. Especially for me growing up pretty traditional.
Great blog, perspective achieved.
.-= J.C.´s last blog ..Milestones: The Aha moment =-.
And what do you call it when the roller coaster of life/family/etc. almost overshadows the roller coaster of spirituality?? I know they’re one and the same but sometimes it feels like they’re 2 separate ones–and when you’re only “hanging on for the ride” most days on the one, forget even getting in line for the other one.
Excellent food for thought, Pete. Thank you.
This made me laugh….and then sorta squirm from the way it rung true. Not only do I use the mircrowave, BUT I usually turn the timer on too long, walk away and when I come back??? It’s exploded all over the microwave leaving me a bigger mess to clean up.
Thanks for this post. Wish I lived closer….I’d love to hear you preach!
.-= Becki´s last blog ..A special friend… =-.
I believe the whole world wants microwavable Christianity. We expect a quick fix to all of life’s problems, we want to put less in than what we expect to get out… Microwaves are neat…but, they can’t bake a cake the way it should be done. It may smell and look similar as a cake baked in the slow oven, but it never feels the same or tastes like it was. I expect things quick, because I think that my time is valuable…God’s timing is different from our own…who knows?, to Him maybe we are microwaving…it took Him a WHOLE WEEK to make the earth. and the Word says in 2nd Peter 3:8 “beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” In light of that why do we think that WE should be complete in the span of our lifetime? A whole day hasn’t even passed yet for God…
Amen!
Ugh! I HATE this roller coaster, but yes, Pete I am buckled in the back…
Thanks for the reminder!
Ohm yeah…so wish there was a speedy sensor cook button to push on my life, but there’s definitely a roller coaster that pushes me to rely even more on Him rather than myself.
.-= Katy´s last blog ..ever wonder… =-.
Unfortunately, I do …
.-= Kevin M.´s last blog ..Fantastic freehand drawings =-.
That roller coaster is so real for me. My faith simmered in a crockpot for a long time. Then it got put in the fridge to preserve it. (?) In time of need, I nuke the left-overs.
Busted.
Every single stinkin’ day! We were just looking at John 13 the other night in our Bible study, where Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. At first Peter says “no way” when Jesus wants to wash Peter’s feet. And when Jesus says without it, Peter has no part with him, then Peter’s begging for the full spa treatment! He’s such an all or nothing kind of guy and I struggle with that too. I want it the way I want it, the way I’m sure God wants it, and if it can’t be that way, then why even bother! Clueless, human Peter is such a comfort!
.-= Christine´s last blog ..Pizza’s healthy….right?! =-.
Yes!
Good to know I’m not crazy. My whole life feels like a roller coaster sometimes and I thought it was just me. So thankful for this post today. I needed to hear these words. I’ve thought over the last few weeks about how lazy we as Americans can be. We want everything to be a quick fix. We don’t want to make the effort it takes to work on improving or changing. Shouldn’t we be willing to go the extra mile for God? Shouldn’t we do everything in our power for Him? I’m not saying I’m perfect or even good at this but it bothers me how much we short-change God in things.
You aren’t crazy Chelsea.
I love your posts. Some hit me harder than others. Some posts step on my toes more than others. I usually know that when I read your blog I’m going to get my feet stepped on. I guess God knows that I need it. Thanks Pete. Your rock.
I can so relate to this. Just as I feel like I’m maturing as a Christian I do something that I want to kick myself for. I think a lot of it is also growing up in a denomination that didn’t show a lot of grace. I always felt like I needed to be perfect. I have to keep reminding myself it’s a process that doesn’t just happen overnight.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Project Life – March 2 – 8, 2010 =-.
Absolutely. I’m glad Peter and I aren’t the only ones that deal with this.
.-= TD´s last blog ..My Birthday Wish List =-.
I have seen that graph plotted on a white board and have even been guilty of making that some myself.
I don’t like to think of it as a jagged graph raising slightly to the right any longer. I like to think of sanctification as more of a marathon with hurdles. It is a long run and we can’t jump all the hurdles at one time. We have to jump them as we come to them. Sometimes we are going to knock some down and maybe even have to ‘rejump’ them but eventually we will move on to the next set.
The beginning of James chapter 1 looks like that to me.
.-= Tony York´s last blog ..Church Hunt Week 5 =-.
Yep I’m on the same roller coaster
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..Beauty Forgotten =-.
I sure am on the same roller coaster as you, and I praise God everyday for it, because without the severity of the lows, one cannot appreciate the magnificence of the highs.
Only this morning, just like another person who left a comment here today, I was looking at the graph of my blog stats and I chuckled as I saw it really looked like a roller-coaster. I chuckled because I often describe myself to people as a yoyo: now up, now down, and the graph in the blog ironically confirmed my very nature. Hey, that is why we need Jesus in our life, right? Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, said the Lord. Amen to that!
.-= anewcreation´s last blog ..A man is what his wife sees, as a woman is what her husband sees =-.
ugh…this is one of those kung fu kicks to the spiritual gut blog post! I am speaking this saturday on finding freedom, and yet I am often a hypocrit. I proclaim this freedom that is true and it does offer hope and yet it times I myself don’t even embrace it. Just this morning I cooked those little pancakes for my daughter and I followed the time and maybe even went over. She picked one up took a bite and said ewww its still cold inside. Falling in love with Jesus was the easy part but staying in love with Him is a fight I engage in daily. I have to die daily….
Thanks Pete:) love this!
.-= Holly Myers´s last blog ..praying…waiting…expecting… =-.
i’m so grateful to know that rollercoaster doesn’t nullify my “usefulness” for His Kingdom…
.-= alece´s last blog ..the greatest regret of my life =-.