There is so much to learn from BLT sandwiches that I have to break apart the ingredients and discuss each one separately. Yesterday, I was bacon. Today, I am tomato.
Now that I see how God uses heat to remove fat in the fry pan of life, I can move on to the knife. One might think that God is cruel with His use of heat and knives in our lives, but I know better. I know how hard I can be. I know how my self-will can be so anti-Christ.
I need a God who loves me so much that He will never be content to let me wander in darkness—even darkness I like. I need a truth to live by that’s TRUE, not arbitrary. Though many cringe at the notion of absolute truth, if we dare to dig deep we find a craving for it—a craving for TRUTH that does not change—a foundation for LIFE that does not shift with the ages–a God who will slice when necessary to reveal my false self and move me back toward my true self–the woman He created me to be.
Enter the tomato. Who in the world would make a BLT with bacon, lettuce, and a whole, unsliced tomato? Yet that’s what we try to do with our lives. We are so full of ourselves. We think WE define right and wrong. We refuse to be sliced. We think we look so great, all red and round and shiny on the outside. Might be good to view, but it sure doesn’t work for BLT sandwiches that feed. Whose mouth is big enough? Don’t answer that question.
If the tomato wants to contribute to the BLT, she must let herself be sliced—opened up. She must let her insides be seen, exposed.
If I want to be a positive, contributing member of society—a positive, useful member in the kingdom of God, I must be sliced and opened.
Anyone who cooks knows the frustration of trying to slice a tomato with a dull knife. The tomato squashes and squishes. It doesn’t slice clean. Its juices are wasted, not tasted.
But with God, He slices sharp, creating beautiful, usable slices for His perfect kingdom purposes. He slices with His holy word.
If we really want to be a great tomato for God, are we willing to be sliced? We fear, but He is dear. Sharp and swift, as painless as possible, is our God.
For 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. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:12-16
Lord, your grace and mercy are beyond comprehension. Slice me, open me, reveal me—make me a wonderful, tasty, sliced tomato that nourishes others and pleases You.
Tomorrow, let us learn about lettuce.
Tomorrow, let us learn about lettuce.