Just Moms

Right now my children are doing a geography game. I can hear the globe asking them “where is _____”. But above that, I’m hearing something else that is driving me insane. My children are chewing gum.

I find myself telling them over and over again not to chew so loudly. And yet they keep on smacking and popping that gum. Their goal is to make the biggest bubble that they can. However, I can’t help but think it’s my fault. After all I buy it for them!

I was thinking about this idea of “chewing gum” and it brings something to mind….

Chewing on God’s Word.

Most of us have Bibles. In fact, most of us have several Bibles in several translations, sizes, and colors. Some have commentaries. Some may include their own daily devotional. And some may have cross reference sections. But are those Bibles becoming “dust collectors”? Are they just another book added to our bookshelf or library?

What are those Bibles to you?

Yesterday my pastor gave a great thing to think about…. Some Christians today (who have been saved for 40 something years) are compared to a 50 year old still trying to master kindergarten.

Is that true with you? Have you been saved for many years, but still feel like your knowledge of God’s Word is on a “kindergarten” level?

The only way for us to “pass kindergarten” spiritually is to chew on God’s Word. Just as my children were (and still are!) chewing their gum with such energy, we need to be chewing on God’s Word.

So here is what we can learn about gum:

Flat and Stiff – When we buy gum, it’s usually flat and stiff. And it will stay that way unless it is opened up and used. We can buy as many Bibles as we want, but unless we open them and use them, they will remain flat and stiff. Flat and stiff as a book itself. And flat and stiff in our spiritual lives.

Starting to Chew – Those first few “bites” on gum are the hardest. That is when it takes the most effort to soften that piece of gum. The same is true with reading God’s Word. When we are dealing with a particular sin in our lives, it will be hard for us to get through those first few bites. We don’t want to hear what God’s Word says about our behavior. Also, God’s Word may seem hard to understand at first. But we must keep on reading (chewing)!!

It’s Noticeable – You always can tell when someone is chewing gum. You can see them chewing. You can hear them chewing. And you may even smell the scent of the gum. Well, studying God’s Word should be noticeable in our lives as well. Maybe others see us with an opened Bible or at a Bible study. (do your children see you studying? Are you attending Bible studies? etc…) Others should hear us talking about and sharing God’s Word. And others should be able to see the “scent of God’s Word” in our lives by the way we apply it.

Blowing a Bubble – My children’s goal was to get that gum to a point where it was pliable enough to blow a bubble. And when they have a big bubble, they will try to get everyone’s attention so they can see it. Are we are desirable to grow that much in our knowledge of God’s Word? Do we desire to have achieve that “Bible bubble” that we have been working towards? We should be chewing on God’s Word so we can grow in our relationship with Christ as well as be His light to this dying world. We should be excited to tell people about what you are learning in God’s Word, just as my children were excited to show everyone their gum “bubble”.

Share a Piece – Isn’t it funny how whenever we take a pack of gum out, the first thing we do is offer a piece to someone else? Are we as willing to offer a Bible to someone else? Do we desire to share His Word with whoever is around us?

For Whatever Reason – Some of us chew gum for different reasons. It’s a “breath freshener”. It can help control our appetite when we are hungry. It can keep us awake. Or if you are like my kids, it’s fun!

God’s Word is used for many reasons as well.

Refresh us.
Control us.
Feed us.
Awaken us.
Excite us.

The same piece of gum is used for many reasons. And the same Word of God meets our needs in so many ways.

So I encourage you to go out and buy a pack of gum. And whenever you start chewing on it, get your Bible out and start chewing on that!

Ok, now I need some gum. (God’s Word that is).

NOTE: If you like these “notes”, then join my “Thoughts From A Chair” facebook group where these notes are posted daily.