The Boat

There is this seafood restaurant in Houston that my sister affectionately calls “the boat.” For a long time, my very picky sister would not eat there. There are no tables, there are only bar stools, and the outside looks a little shady. Mainly, it looks like a boat. No literally… It looks like a boat was washed ashore in some terrific hurricane and place in the most random spot in Houston it could have possibly landed. A few weeks ago, with much chagrin, she followed (more like he dragged) her husband into “the boat” for a family lunch. Of course, with a little coaxing, she tried the gumbo and she loved it. Now, she goes as often as he ask because, hey, the food is good. I was thinking about my picky sister today, and I couldn’t help but correlate this story to how we (Christians) feel about the Word.

Some Christians, at best, crack their Bible open to the Sunday morning scripture, stick the bulletin in there to mark the place in case the preacher references it again, and go a full six days without so much as looking at it again. (Mostly because it sits in the back seat of the car until the next Sunday, or until they’re trying to convince a new love interest that they are, in fact, a Christian.) On the outside, the book appears almost unappetizing, crammed with non-interesting facts about Jehosa-whoever’s great grand son’s baby momma becoming a pillar of salt for overlooking the Nile to the east instead of the west… Or something to that nature. To many, it seems to be a book of do’s and don’ts, mostly taking the “fun” out of our very existence.

But, if we dare to venture into the deepest crevices, the inside of our spiritual “boat” can take us on unexpected, even delicious adventures.  When we begin to dive into the Word, our Spirit- man becomes alive with curiosity. We find out that God loves us so much He gave the greatest sacrifice any parent could offer. We discover that life has a purpose, a destiny beyond anything we could have come up with; a reason for our traditions and our importance in society.

I’ll admit, it can be laboring, frightful even, trying to figure out where to start. The great thing is, there are so many resources available out there to help you get started; I can’t fathom a topic that someone hasn’t tackled pertaining to the Bible that doesn’t have a devotional for personal study. And if you’re still at a loss, there are 31 Proverbs for (most of) the 31 days in a month… So there…. No more excuses…

In all seriousness, we should tackle our walk with Christ the way we tackle any goal in life, with reason and faith, defeating our potential obstacles before we face them, stretching ourselves to grow in spite of those awkward and uncomfortable growing pains.

And if you ever see a seafood restaurant shaped like a boat, try it out; my sister would recommend the gumbo.

Scripture Reference:  

           

Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

            Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

            For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Joshua 1: 8 (NIV)

            Keep this Book of the Law on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

John 1:1 (NIV)

            In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Thought Builders:

What is keeping you for diving into God’s Instruction Manual? Do you feel the directions are too hard to follow?

If you have a regular devotion time, how can you encourage others to do the same?

Is the Word of God, in your opinion, still a valid resource for modern Christians?

(Note: If you have questions about how to get started, seek the guidance of your pastor or of a trust-worthy Christian friend.)

Love LIFE (Love Is ForEver):

I can’t think of anything more intimate than reading the Word with  your special someone. Grab your spouse, a cup of coffee, and your personal Bibles and read Song of Solomon together. Take turns reading a chapter, then take turns telling them how YOU would have written it about them.