No Microwaved Disciples
God is more of a low-and-slow kind of chef
What tastes better: food cooked in the microwave or food cooked in the oven?
If you took the same exact meal, and cooked one in the microwave and the other in the oven, we all know which one would taste better. Sure, the microwaved meal will be cooked quicker, but there’s something about 350F for an hour or two that really elevates a dish.
Generally speaking, this principle holds up across the board. Would you rather live in a house that was built in 6 days or 10 months? Would you rather be flown by a pilot with 2,000 flight hours or 250? Good things take time. Rome wasn’t built in a day, as they say.
We’ve forgotten a bit of this in our modern age. We want everything to be simultaneously great and fast. It doesn’t work that way. Nothing works that way.
Unfortunately, in our rushed modern age, Christians are pulled to opt for microwaved discipleship over low-and-slow faithfulness. Many people “try Christianity,” get bored or burnt out, and give up on the Lord. Even sincere Christians grow increasingly frustrated and discouraged when they don’t see instant results after putting on the Lord Jesus.
But we need to remember that God isn’t “microwaving” disciples, He’s “cooking” them low-and-slow. God isn’t looking for mere behavior modification, He wants us to be totally transformed.
Being “conformed to the image of His Son” takes time (Rom. 8:29). What God has in store for us is not instant, and it’s not supposed to be. God has His eye on the long haul.
Remember that, as a Christian, you can’t rush what God is trying to accomplish in and through you. There’s no app for instant Christlikeness. There are no “microwaved” disciples. God will finish the work He’s started in us, but we’ve got to stay in the oven a bit longer.
Precisely why Paul inspired of the Holy Spirit spoke & had penned the following.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
(2 Timothy 4:8-9)
He also realized he had not yet attained perfection God has in store for those who are Christ’s!
(cf; Philippians 3:10-14)