What If Málà Chicken was the Word of God?



C
hinese
: 麻辣; pinyin: málà; literally "numbing and spicy"

The aroma alone will drive you nuts such that you become eligible for admission into the nearest psych ward for your inappropriate expression of joy and rather illicit disregard for your neighbors. And what about the raw spiciness & hotness of the Habanero chili peppers carefully sliced into the layers of delicious rice? Just one slice will leave your mouth thirsting for some very cold liquid, yet burning with the desire for more.

The last time I checked, this crazy Málà Chicken dish was still my boyfriend's husband's favorite Chinese take-out, at least for now (I can still call him my bf right? It's already 3 months since we said "I Do"). Anyhow, the last time he brought it home from work, as soon as I spotted the dish of mala chicken on the coffee table I sprinted to his side to get a taste (lest I might have been forgotten behind).

* * * * *
What If?
What if Málà chicken (*insert your own favorite dish*) was the word of God? Would I have sprinted to the coffee table to get a taste of the delicious meal? Would I have sat down to inhale the sweet aroma before dipping my spoon and packing a spoonful?


What if Málà chicken (*insert your own favorite dish*) was the word of God? Would you dream about it day and night and schedule an appointment on your phone to stop by the Chinese Restaurant for lunch? Would you savor the taste until everything else around you becomes obsolete except the one thing that really mattered?

You see, Jesus once said: "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." [Matthew 4:4]

If you lived for food alone then what would your worth will be reduced to? It is nice to know that there are yet deeper things in our lives more than food. Day unto day utters secrets, and night unto night whispers mysteries. The universe itself speaks, showing us signs through volcanoes, earthquakes, whirlwinds, tornadoes, and more. The works of His hands sway in the wind and there is no language that does not understand. We were spoken into existence because of the Words that proceeded from His mouth. Therefore, our survival is also hinged on His every word: our livelihoods, families, passions, dreams, desires, goals...everything. These all hang onto the powerful thread of His words.

Close your eyes for a second and reflect on your yummiest favorite food. God's word is so much more aromatic...and if you soak yourself in His aroma, you're bound to have a more enriching life than food can provide. What do you think?

Tune in Check back again on Friday...UPDATE: one of my favorite bloggers will be featured on the "Guest Blogger Fridays" series NEXT WEEK (no longer tomorrow). God bless you and keep you. Amen.

32 comments:

olusimeon said...

true true and overtrue... any aroma my life has is from the spice of Gods word..

Harry said...

Hmmn... This is so true... If we all took God's word as we took the food we love to eat maybe we will be so much more spiritually strong than we are now

jhazmyn said...

Hmmm, ok, posts like these remind me that I'm not exactly yet "there" in my relationship with God, especially when it comes to dashing to "fix an appointment" to study the word ... its still on and off for me.

Getting past all the hustle to meditate on the word of God can sure be tough for me sometimes, but those few moments i tear myself away and just study and pray...are totally exhilarating...i sure wish i could do it more often cos nothing else compares...Still working on it

Unknown said...

I think it will be an 'out of this world experience'. Yummy! I like the analogy.

AliceDCL said...

wow
i could have sworn taht i followed yourblog!!!!!

its really true...
some times i am scared that i really do leave for food
what id eat
even when am sad i think of what i can eat to make me happy
now
if only i can have that passion for Gods word, i am still in d process.......

Michael said...

Wow! What a great post! For me it would be a cup of black coffee. Love it.

What you said is so true, I pray everday for people's lives to become literally saturated with the Word of God. (mine too)

DayDreamer said...

My favorite line is "Therefore our survival hinges on His very Word..." How often I forget where my source comes from.

Jennifer A. said...

@Simeone...I like that line. Me too...:)

@Harry...trust me, we would all be spiritually strong. That's why Jesus said, "man does not live by bread alone."

@Jhazmyn...the first step for many of us is recognizing that we need to do it. I believe you're on the right track. Think of it like you're looking forward to doing it everyday, and you will enjoy the experience. What I try to do is "Lord, I'm dedicated to learning from your word before I even open up my laptop" (And trust me my laptop has to be open at some point in the morning...so there...I made myself accountable). :)

@Naijalines...lol @ out-of-this-world-experience. You must be thinking about your favorite food!

@BBB...great to know you're still in the process. The way I see it, each day is a process. But like I responded to Jhazmyn's comment, you can make yourself accountable...the bible says we must "study to show ourselves approved."(2 Timothy 2:15) It's like going to school and doing your homework...it is more necessary than the food we eat. Okay, so I'm cheering you on...you can do this...

@Michael...how do you "love" black coffee? Do you add milk and sugar until it tastes sweet? Or do you like it bitter? Wowwwww...LOL. Me and Coffee aren't friends, but I can dream of Starbucks hot chocolate all day long! Lol (thanks for stopping by again)...have a God-fulfilling day :)

Jennifer A. said...

@HomieGFunk...tell me about it. If we can only remember this everyday...that this life that we live is not ours...*sigh* [He is the POTTER & we are the CLAY...I've gotta remember that]. Thank you Father...

NakedSha said...

The way you write is outstanding.

That dish looks breath-taking by the way.

Christ help us in our endeavour to thirst for Him like the dear thirst for water.

Jennifer A. said...

@NakedSha...lol as I'm looking at the rice and Mala chicken, I'm becoming hungry...lol, I feel you. Who sent me to put the picture of the food? Thanks so much for the encouraging compliment :)

~Mimi~ said...

:) Mala chicken. this I have to try. :) (see how i am even more focused on the food than ur post? human!! but thank God His Spirit calls me everyday. Love the Precious very patient Holy Spirit.

Jennifer A. said...

@Mimi...lol @ focusing on the food more than the post. Caught in the act! :)

Pearl said...

The Mala Chicken sure looks delicious. Next time I buy Chinese I will try it out.

So much truth in this post. I love it!!!!!!

Jennifer A. said...

@Shona...if you like SPICINESS you are bound to lick your lips when you try it :)

F said...

This totally speaks to me... Trying to get into a habit of reading the Word but it's harder than I would have thought. Thanks for giving me a new perspective on it... Your posts are always helpful. :)

Chizzy D said...

wow very deep. I often treat the world of God as if it is a very healthy food that i need to eat, but don't want to...

Jennifer A. said...

@F...how have u been? Great to know that you now have another perspective. It may not be easy at first...but allow it to become addictive...like food, lol :) (ok, here are my two genuine tips:

1) I try to read at least a chapter a day...so it's more like something I have to do;

2) When I read I imagine wild images that go with the words, instead of just reading a white and black page...so you can make it visually stimulating and as colorful as you want...you can also do research if u don't understand something...hope that helped even more...HOLLA!)

@GoHard...sort of like green vegetables? LOL...If I did that I'll just never read it! Ok, so I'm guessing we're going to switch from vegetables to fried rice (or pounded yam and egusi/ogbono...whichever food rocks your boat)...LOL. Love ur bloggie!

Unknown said...

May God in his infinite grace continue to give you his words and I pray that you through this means can reach out to millions of people.Make This world a better place..
I have nothing else to say.. except that today your way of passing this message got through to me..

Chizzy D said...

@jaycee...ya, i am def working on changing the way see spending time with God. I want it to be something that i really cant wait to do everyday. Some days im like that, but most days im not.

Jennifer A. said...

@2cute4u...speechless am I, except to say "Amen & Amen." I once heard a quote, "a pipe carrying water will also be watered." Since you've prayed, the very same good things will come to you. Thank u.

@GoHard...I guess it's all about "baby steps" anyhow. But you know what? If you have a strong desire for something, it will be pulled towards you like a magnet. Just like how you were inspired to become a "Spoken Word Artiste" because of Blair Wingo...

Myne said...

I laughed at the analogy but it is really a serious question. Most times the word of God comes behind several of our favourite things.

Myne said...

And thanks for adding naijastories on your link and for the We are Jos banner. Really appreciate.

Jennifer A. said...

@Myne, yes it is really a serious matter hiding underneath a humorous topic. You're welcome (concerning the banner and Naija stories). Cheers...

Justjoxy said...

Hmm, very true. Here's to imagining my Bible's a huge bowl of ice cream. Thanks for the analogy.

Jennifer A. said...

@JustJoxy...I'm 99.9% with you on that one...aaaaaaaaahhhh: "Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough" if I may be more specific...ha ha ha...

ICECREAM LINK: http://www.benjerry.com/flavors/our-flavors/#

Unknown said...

ARGHHH!! I am loving the post bajely! lol.
Wait o, make Papa's word be Iyan plus egusi soup, chei! I no go dey comot house again. lol.

You know something interesting about this illustration?

The word of God is readily available to us. We live with it, sleep with it (some even hide it under their pillow kwa!), carry it up and down, yet we don't value it, let alone the stuffs inside. On the contrary, our favourite dishes are hardly available o. We probably only get them once a week or once a month, yet the value we accord to them is too much for words.

Its high time we reshape our values back to the source of light - God's word. Wo, make I stop for here o. lol

Thanks for sharing my friend. You are awesome. More greeeaaassseee!

- LDP

Jennifer A. said...

@LDP...so you like Iyan + Egusi like this...ahhh, birds of a feather. You're so right, as per your observation. We don't always have the luxury of our favorite dishes, yet we have the good old dusty book not too far away from our fingers *Sigh*. Thank you for that addition, you're truly a professor.

Anonymous said...

If the word of GOD was DODO & EGG....
HA! my whole family would be filled to the brim with the WORD OF GOD! Do you know that , there is always a verse in the bible that supports every action either good or bad? It all depends on INTERPRETATION! If not our pastors would not be saying different things! Like the issue of anointing oil; Pastor Oyedepo[am not such a big fan though!] & Pastor Tunde are at loggerheads. Pastor Oyedepo says the annoiting oil is the LIFE FORM OF GOD IN A BOTTLE! Pastor Tunde says , it is a lie from the pit of hell & it is occultic in nature & torn the book in the eyes of the public in the church! Each had a verse/chapter to back their argument!

Jennifer A. said...

@NittyGritty...LOL @ DODO & EGG...for real!

About Pastor Oyedepo and Pastor Tunde, this is my view: God is not a God of confusion. I think you should ask the Holy Spirit for the true revelation of what the anointing oil means...at the end of the day, the truth cannot conflict itself.

My hubby just chipped in a bit and said that even though those two pastors had a scripture to back up what they were saying, you need to go back to the Word of God yourself and read all those scriptures in CONTEXT. Sometimes taking a single verse from bits and pieces of the bible won't help.

Last point, pastors are not always right because they are still human. So we always need to be like the "Bereans," they were people who always went back to the book to search the truth. Pastors are there to guide us, they should be right if they are led by the Holy spirit, but the truth is they aren't always right.

One example I can think of off the top of my head: in Numbers chapter 20 God told Moses to SPEAK to the rock and water will come out, but because Moses was angry he went ahead and struck the rock TWICE (instead of speaking to it like God said He should)...the people were watching him...even though water came out of the rock for the people, he was still wrong.

Kafo said...

my cousin recently came home and has been reading the bible insatiably and it is a sight to see and it reminded mii of those days when the bible was sweeter than yam and garden egg on on sunday morning

thanks for the reminder

Jennifer A. said...

@Kafo...lol @ YAM & GARDEN EGG.