In my early culinary days, my dedicated mother made sure I could make my beloved macaroni and cheese. She put a no drain microwavable recipe for me on a recipe card, inserted the card in a magnetic frame, and I put it on my fridge. I was single, living in an apartment in my 20’s, and while I ate that macaroni goodness I felt like I could conquer the world. I have now graduated, as I approach the age of 40, to boiling water in a pan on my stovetop as I make macaroni and cheese. However, as I share with this very special no drain microwavable macaroni and cheese recipe, I think we can make some connections back to our spiritual lives.
So for a brief moment, pretend you are a piece of pasta…are you hungry yet? ;-). When one makes macaroni in the microwave they fill up a large microwavable bowl with water and dump in the box of pasta. Put it in the microwave for 12 to 14 minutes, stirring about every five minutes. I will tell you when I first read this, I was shocked. Is it safe to even run a microwave that long?! The answer is yes. As the microwave runs the water slowly cooks the macaroni and evaporates.
It takes awhile. Just like it takes awhile for God to get into our hearts, teach us His ways, and help to shape and mold us cooking up lives for us that make us look more like Him and less like the world. Slowly but surely we combat the sin in our lives, ask for forgiveness, and let God’s grace seep inside us as the sin evaporates away. We begin to soften and bend to the will of God and away from the darkness that stiffens us in the world. When the microwave dings, take out the ready macaroni, and open up the bag of cheese to pour on top. With a giant wooden spoon, the macaroni noodles and cheese are mixed together to create one of the greatest savory dishes of all time. Just like the delicious cheese sauce that mixes in with the macaroni, God pours His goodness all over us. We are permeated with God’s fulfilling promises and unconditional love. We are covered in a desire to serve and love others as we follow in Christ’s footsteps. We are immersed in the goodness and richness of God’s plans for our lives. We become savory to those around us as we reflect the delight of Christ.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life” (Ephesians 2:8-10).