Like potato chips...

September 30, 2009

I brought a bag of chips with me from the cupboard, sat down at the computer, and wondered what I would write about. I started eating my chips, one handful after the other. I realize this is not the picture of healthful eating in progress, because I am pretty sure that how I was eating was pretty mindless, not paying any attention whatsoever to the food being brought to my mouth at first. I was opening Blogger, typing passwords, looking at the "blogs I follow" on the opening page and all, and thinking about my blog entry to come instead of focusing on the eating part. But whoa, it wasn't long before my food got my attention. And I knew what to write about.

My chips, if you've ever had them, then you'd know why they suddenly caught my attention. They're Kettle Brand Chips, Spicy Thai flavor. The thing about these chips is that you start eating them, and they seem very sweet and flavorful and beautifully seasoned with parsley. Then WHAM... they hit you. HOTTT! :) When I saw "spicy" on the label, I kinda was thinking more that they were really filled with "spice- y", savory flavors, rather than HOT spicy. I love hot, but they surprised me, and now there are unexpected flames shooting from my tongue.

Now, where am I going?

You see, it instantly occurred to me that it's exactly how I read the Bible. I open it often without expectation or looking for something sweet and savory, and then WHAM! I am hit with something that really gets my attention. Something I read is challenging, or I get an unexpected feeling of awe, or something altogether that I needed to hear just at that very moment to change the way I've been doing things. Something falls on me in a new way, and I am instantly jolted into action, into prayer, into confession, or into rejoicing. The Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword... but it never gets stale.

I pray that my studying, as I have been doing research for a book I am writing (why my blogs have been few and far-between) that it would become addictive, as well... that it would be what I want first, before any distraction, and that the Spirit would be hot on my tongue that I would be at the ready to speak of the mighty deeds of God.


12For the word of God is living 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.