The Simmer

My wife makes an amazing - and delicious - pasta sauce (I think her family calls it "gravy"). Besides the ingredients, one of the secrets to this culinary creation is the way it is cooked. She doesn't use a microwave, she doesn't put it on the stove for a couple of hours to simmer; no, this is no rushed or get-it-done-quickly endeavor - it is an all day and next day process. The meatballs go into the sauce, the gas is turned on low, and, except for the occasional stir, the warm red deliciousness is left alone and left to simmer.

Now, if I may, I'll draw a metaphor from this top favorite meal of my wife's meals. We are like the pasta sauce and meatballs and God's work in us is like the slow cook process my wife uses to produce this Italian gem enjoyed by many. The Lord often employs methods of sanctifying us that seem slow or lacking to our results-oriented thinking. He often works behind the scenes, seemingly ignoring our need for growth and change, all the while wisely managing it out of site from our prying eyes and far away from our self-efforts and tendency to take over his process.

It's not surprising that we want to measure and see quick results, to feel like what we're doing needs a worthwhile ROI. Anyone who has worked in a white-collar corporate environment would probably be familiar with this mindset. I know - I spent forty years achieving goals and producing results. That's the way businesses run. But the church is not a business, and we must take caution that we don't adopt this mentality to a fault in our lives or in ministry.

Saul, Israel's first king, demanded by the will of the people, had an experience from the Lord that changed him into a different man -

The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.¹

Saul, who was small in his own eyes, suddenly was enabled by the Lord's Spirit to rule the Lord's people with strength, courage, wisdom and skill for the calling. God gave him the abilities that he needed to do his upcoming job as king. This event confirmed Saul's coming role and kingship.

David, a shepherd boy and second king of Israel, experienced a different sort of change. His was a gradual change that prepared him to shepherd the people of Israel and lead them as a protector and king. David would learn to trust fully in the Lord his God even before entering his role as king. This process of training and character building would take years.

This comparison is not to diminish Saul's experience with God at Gibeah. Here the Lord enabled Saul with a change that would ready him for kingship and confirm that Saul's ascendance to the throne was God-ordained. But Saul's character does not appear to have been changed during his time with the prophets of God. His future life as king would seem to indicate that. On the other hand, David was not only chosen by God - he was also trained by him.²

The Lord holds our character in a place of high value, and character takes time to develop. So don't be discouraged in the process, and don't fight it - you are being prepared like a good pasta sauce (or gravy, if you prefer). God has anointed you and called you to task, and he is also taking you through the sometimes-slow process of character development. God is searching for instruments of his purpose.³ So don't be surprised at the fiery trial you might find yourself in. It is the tool in God's hand to sculpt you into his masterpiece, a masterpiece that will be set on display for all to see; to his glory.⁴

References

¹ 1 Samuel 10:6

² Psalms 144:1 - Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.

³ 2 Timothy 2:21 - Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

⁴ 1 Peter 4:12-13 - Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.