The Richness of Scripture
If dessert makes you feel bad afterwards, someone did something wrong - and it wasn’t you. That is to say, rich desserts do not have to be heavy.
According to Chef Jeremy of MissoulaCakes.com, we can have all the yums without the gut bomb often associated with desserts. He says the trick is two-fold: layers and contrast. He claims that the full yum experience means having multiple layers with different textures.
As an example, he uses the scene from Willy Wonka where Violet is chewing the magical gum which transforms from turkey to stuffing and all the sides, then blueberry pie.
When a layered cake is done right, we can experience all of the richnes of the contrasting flavor distinctions, without the need for more fat and sugar.
Scripture is like a well crafted cake, rich and full of layers and textures — everything from biblical history, the Law, and prophecy, to poetry and proverbs, filled beginning to end with moral and eccelsiastical instruction, all layered with measures of personal, communal, and even global admonition and instruction.
Some might find that all a bit "heavy" to consume. Yet the Word of God is crafted so perfectly that it fills our lives with richness, with fullness, without any of the bloat. It is meant to be savored, consumed, and digested.
To that end, Paul admonishes us to embrace the whole of scripture, with all it's richness and many textures, so that it might have its fullest impact on our lives. We can experience all of its intended nourishment without feeling heavy. And like a delectible dessert shared among friends after a lavish meal, we can delight in it with grattitude and praise.
"Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts" (Colossians 3:16, NLT).
"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" (Psalm 34:8, NIV).
Drawing Upon the Deep Resources of God
All of nature depends on hidden resources. The great trees send their roots down into the earth to draw up water and minerals. Rivers have their sources in the snow-capped mountains. The most important part of a tree is the part you cannot see, the root system …
[Warren W. Wiersbe is best known as a Bible teacher, author, and conference speaker. He has ministered in churches and conferences in Canada, Central and South America, Europe, and the United States. He has published more than 150 books and was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.]
... And the most important part of the Christian’s life is the part that only God sees. Unless we draw upon the deep resources of God by faith, we fail against the pressures of life.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:15).
Faith Quotes
"Faith is not like gasoline which runs out when you use it, but like a muscle that grows stronger as you use it." [Unknown]
“Faith means believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” [Chuck Swindol (1934 - ) is an evangelical Christian pastor, author, educator, and radio preacher.]
"Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation." [D. Elton Trueblood, 20th century author, educator, Quaker theologian]
"Faith and doubt both are needed - not as antagonists, but working side by side to take us around the unknown curve." [Lillian Smith, 20th century Southern writer and outspoken segregation critic]
"In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't." [Blaise Pascal, 17th century French scientist, writer, and Christian philosopher]
"God never made a promise that was too good to be true." [Dwight L. Moody, 19th century American evangelist, publisher, and namesake of Moody Bible Institute and Moody Publishing]
"Worry is spiritual short sight. Its cure is intelligent faith." [Paul Brunton, 20th century British spiritualist and mystic]
"Faith is reason grown courageous." [Sherwood Eddy, 20th century American missionary, author and educator]
"Skepticism is the beginning of Faith." [Oscar Wilde, 19th century Irish poet, novelist, dramatist]
"Fear can keep us up all night long, but faith makes one fine pillow." [Unknown]
"Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time." [Oswald Chambers, early 20th century Scottish minister and Bible teacher]
Many of the above quotes provide their own points of application. They do not necessarily represent the views of Orthodox Christianity; neither do they necessarily represent the views of Illustration Exchange.