Take time to marinate

Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. His answer was, “The Kingdom of God does not come in such a way as to be seen. No one will say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’; because the Kingdom of God is within you.”  –Luke 17:20-21 (GNT)
 
To be sure, the Kingdom of God was unlike anything seen or imagined up to that point. We’re about two thousand years downstream from that conversation, and in some ways, this kingdom still seems as mysterious as it must have been to those first-century religious experts, and even to Jesus’ own disciples. No borders to defend, no territory, no army, no conquest of an evil empire. Just the presentation of a story about a God-man who willingly died a sacrificial death, then came back to life. A story that, when believed, demands full surrender.
 
Surrender is not normally associated with victory. But for those who surrender to the lordship of this resurrected King, hope replaces despair, redemption replaces shame, life replaces death. Transformation occurs from the inside out. And the Kingdom of God grows within, eventually overflowing to attract new citizens, one at a time. People hoping, searching, and finally finding something of substance, their imaginations intrigued by what they witnessed in the life of some Jesus-follower who crossed their path.
 
But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?  –2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NLT)
 
Indeed, who is adequate? How do we get from the Kingdom within us to having it overflow out of us? With apologies to the vegans among us, I propose we marinate.
 
I enjoy a good steak. Especially one that’s been soaking for six to eight hours in a mixture of olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, white pepper, and garlic powder. The marinade tenderizes and adds flavor. It doesn’t overpower, but complements and enhances the taste and texture of the meat. One of the keys to marinating is the time it takes, which depends on the cut, but must be long enough for the liquids and seasonings to permeate the fibers of the steak. Once the process has done its work, the smells and flavors produced in the cooking and the eating are one of those simple pleasures that make life worth living!
 
Most Christ-followers I have known to be effective in the overflow that leads to Kingdom growth have been marinating a while. And the marinade? The word of God, skillfully and carefully applied, instructing, convicting, reminding, inspiring, allowing the Spirit to permeate and enlighten every fiber of their being. It is a joy to be around such brothers and sisters. It would probably be taking the analogy too far to say they were hot off the grill, but they do have a certain glow about them!
 
I pray that God, the source of all hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit.  –Romans 15:13 (VOICE)