Daily Devotional
The Recipe
Proverbs 14:12 - “There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.” (NIV)
One day I pulled out my old Betty Crocker Cookbook. I took off the thick rubber band holding all the pages together. A couple pages floated to the floor. It is worn, torn, and stained but still very precious to me. It contains all my recipes from the 70’s.
I remember, as an inexperienced cook, how carefully I followed the recipes—most of the time. However, there were more than a few times I hurried through the recipe, not taking care with the measurements or the cooking instructions. Admittedly, there were a few times I improvised, sometimes because I was too lazy (or too poor) to buy the right ingredients. The results were often disastrous. “Too spicy. Too bland. Too gummy. Too…everything.” (Ask Jim about my disastrous broccoli pie recipe!). I soon learned that following the recipe carefully would give me the desired result.
God’s Word is filled with recipes. His set of instructions clearly describe the success we can expect when we follow His plan for our lives. Notice the technique for success in the Old Testament description of Hezekiah, king of Judah:
2 Kings 18:6–7 - “For he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. And the Lord was with him; wherever he went he prospered…”
Here is the wonderful recipe from the New Testament that results in salvation:
Romans 10:9 - “…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…”
The Bible also warns us of the failure that will come to us when we do not follow His formula for doing things. In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God was speaking through Azariah to Asa, king of Judah:
2 Chronicles 15:2 - “Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the Lord is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”
That confirms the observation described in the ancient words of King Solomon:
Proverbs 14:12 - “There is a way (i.e., a recipe) that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death” (New International Version).
Ultimately, we heed the words of Jesus as our formula for success. When asked what the greatest commandments are, He answered:
Mark 12:30–31 - “…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The man who asked the question followed up that these were “much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:33). In other words, this is the perfect set of instructions for living our lives according to His plan. Don’t try to improvise on that which is a perfect recipe. It will taste worse than my broccoli pie!
I remember, as an inexperienced cook, how carefully I followed the recipes—most of the time. However, there were more than a few times I hurried through the recipe, not taking care with the measurements or the cooking instructions. Admittedly, there were a few times I improvised, sometimes because I was too lazy (or too poor) to buy the right ingredients. The results were often disastrous. “Too spicy. Too bland. Too gummy. Too…everything.” (Ask Jim about my disastrous broccoli pie recipe!). I soon learned that following the recipe carefully would give me the desired result.
God’s Word is filled with recipes. His set of instructions clearly describe the success we can expect when we follow His plan for our lives. Notice the technique for success in the Old Testament description of Hezekiah, king of Judah:
2 Kings 18:6–7 - “For he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. And the Lord was with him; wherever he went he prospered…”
Here is the wonderful recipe from the New Testament that results in salvation:
Romans 10:9 - “…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…”
The Bible also warns us of the failure that will come to us when we do not follow His formula for doing things. In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God was speaking through Azariah to Asa, king of Judah:
2 Chronicles 15:2 - “Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the Lord is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”
That confirms the observation described in the ancient words of King Solomon:
Proverbs 14:12 - “There is a way (i.e., a recipe) that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death” (New International Version).
Ultimately, we heed the words of Jesus as our formula for success. When asked what the greatest commandments are, He answered:
Mark 12:30–31 - “…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The man who asked the question followed up that these were “much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:33). In other words, this is the perfect set of instructions for living our lives according to His plan. Don’t try to improvise on that which is a perfect recipe. It will taste worse than my broccoli pie!
PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS and TEACHERS
- Bake some cookies with your kids and talk about God’s recipes, God’s instructions, God’s formulas for success. To bring home the point, make a batch of cookies that will fail. Do not follow the recipe. Add something strange to it (e.g., too much salt or put pickles in the dough.) Point out the Bible clearly warns what will happen if you don’t follow His recipe.
2. Draw their attention to God’s recipe for salvation.
Romans 10:9, 13 - “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved….Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (NIV).
Explain that people try to use their own recipes for salvation. They may try to work hard to be perfect, or worship another god but it will all fail. You must follow God’s recipe to succeed.
3. Explain to your children an example of when you followed God’s recipe and an example when you did not.
"New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide."
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide."
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