A few years ago, our family discovered this shop in Florida that made incredible cupcakes. They were "out of this world" delicious. And there was one item in particular that really became a favorite of ours: a chocolate cupcake with peanut butter icing. I remember thinking "I hope they have these in Heaven."
Every now and then, I would do something else. When I went into that shop to pick up something, I'd get a "peanut butter shot". It was the peanut butter icing in a small cup without the cupcake. Basically, I was enjoying one part of the experience and leaving out the other.
If we're not careful, we can do the same thing with the Bible. I'm talking about enjoying some parts of scripture and ignoring other parts. Think about it...
It's possible to focus on God's forgiveness and leave out God's call to righteousness.
It's possible to focus on God's love and leave out God's wrath.
It's possible to focus on God's grace and leave out God's discipline.
It's possible to focus on God's Heaven and leave out Satan's hell.
Just like I would occasionally enjoy the icing and leave out the cupcake, people some times feast on the portions of scripture that delight, and leave out the selections that convict. This picking and choosing with God's Holy Word is not good for us on a spiritual level. We need all of the Bible. Every bit of it. The parts that soothe us, and the parts that sting us. Scripture is to be read, absorbed, and followed in its entirety.
I could occasionally get away with enjoying the icing and ignoring the cupcake. But we don't get to do that with scripture. God never gave us that option.
Be "whole Bible" in your Christian walk. Take it all in. And then live it out. Besides, the Word of God is a healthy feast of life-changing wisdom and divine power that will make your life so much better. You'll never regret feasting on the whole book.
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