Whether we enjoy it or not many of us have cooked or baked. A process that starts out with several separate ingredients. Flour, butter, sugar, egg, salt, baking soda, and vanilla are the ingredients that make cookies. All these different ingredients come together to form sweet rounds of dough. 

I am a baker at heart. I love to bake for my family and friends. Even with my passion and experience in baking I still mess up. Miss one ingredient and the recipe for perfect cookies can be ruined. Loose patience, don’t let the bread rise and the outcome will be a less desirable slice of bread. 

Often times we read God’s Word. We take it in, see the recipe for a life patterned after Christ. However, sometimes we miss an ingredient. We forget the egg and we have flat dry cookies. Or we try to add another ingredient. Something someone we esteem told us and it sounded good. Finding out later that chunks of aluminium are not a good cookie ingredient. Not only did that suggested ingredient go wrong in the oven it is also harmful to you. 

God’s Word is meant to be digested together. One whole, complete recipe. Both the Old and New Testaments have value and importance. In the same way that the butter and vanilla do. 

Sometimes God can use others to help us, direct us, and even correct us. But if what someone is saying doesn’t line up with God’s Word then it isn’t meant to be added to the recipe. 

Stick to the ingredients and trust that they will form the best cookie ever.

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. NLT

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ESV

Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. ESV

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. NKJV

James 1:22-25 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. NLT