Regularity

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” [2 Timothy 3:16, 17]

   Growing up, I would ask, "Do I have to eat the Lima Beans?" I was even heard to say, "Brussels sprouts, again!" Dad always remarked, "Eat'em there good for you." Now I'm an adult and my perspective has changed. Vegetables I did not like because of the way they looked, I've found don't taste as bad as they looked. Other vegetables I learned to acquire a taste for and even like them. There are still some, like lima beans and Brussels sprouts, for which I never have acquired a taste, but eat because they are good for me. What I do like is a salad bar. When I go to the salad bar, I don't take everything offered only my favorite foods.
   When it comes to scripture many Christians are salad bar Christians. They only eat (read and study) passages or subjects they like never learning to acquire a taste for all scripture. Paul tells Timothy "all scripture...is profitable." It is profitable because it helps produce maturity in us. It enables us to meet the demands placed upon us every day. It is capable, complete and proficient. All scripture is profitable because all scripture is inspired - God's inerrant recorded revelation of truth [the Bible] is the final authority of faith and practice. The Bible is an indispensable tool in teaching and preaching. Consider the following foods necessary for our spiritual development.
   First we have the Broccoli of Doctrine. What we believe is rooted in the teaching of God’s word. God’s Word is to be the only source of what we believe. Broccoli has never been one of my favorite foods but I do find it necessary to eat for health reasons. Doctrine sometimes can be difficult to swallow because it goes against our natural thinking and sometimes to make it more palatable, we tend to mix it with error so that people will find it acceptable. Paul warned us about this in 2 Tim 4:3.
   Secondly, we find the Brussels Sprouts of Reproof. Brussels sprouts are almost impossible for me to eat. That’s why I associated them with reproof. No one really likes reproof but it is necessary because through it we learn what we are doing wrong in light of the objective standard of Scripture. Reproof reminds us we cannot do as we please as it exposes sin, false doctrine and false teachers.
   Thirdly, we come to the Lima Beans of Correction. In correction, we are shown how to change what we are doing wrong - attitude, actions. It’s hard enough to swallow doing something wrong let alone be told to change our ways but there cannot be any spiritual maturity with out change. Correction directs us to the right path, the straight path. It restores to a right standing.
   Finally there is the Okra of instruction. Here we mean the necessary training towards righteousness. We have to get rid of the attitude that says no one is going to tell me what to do, let alone God and let go of the set jaw, the closed mouth and clenched fist that represent our unwillingness to learn.
   The first step toward maturity is learning to feed on the whole counsel of God. It good for you and once you begin to feed on the whole counsel of God you will find the taste isn’t as bad as you thought it would be. As salad Bar Christians we will never mature until we learn to feed on the whole counsel of God. The option is instability that immaturity produces. (Eph 4:11ff). By picking and choosing what we want from God's word, we miss many of the good things God has planned for us. Daily visits to the salad are not good for us but an occasionally a visit is all right!