Introduction
Recently Steve Gregg visited my area and presented a message to a Christian fellowship here. His subject was the change that we are expected to undergo having committed ourselves to Christ. But it was a metaphor he used in his message that I thought was stunning in its clarity, and worth sharing with those both familiar, and not yet familiar, with Steve’s teachings.
Overview of Steve’s Message
The message focused on changes we naturally undergo throughout our lives, that set the context for our expectations of ongoing change. But its main message was that as Christians, we are enabled to undergo spiritual change through the work of the Holy Spirit in us, to enable us to become more and more like Christ – the first of many children of God (Rom 8:29).
Message
But if the work of the Spirit in us is the enabler of our maturation into more and more Christlikeness, what’s our job in facilitating this metamorphosis?
Here Steve focused on the discipline of immersing ourselves in God’s word. He was clear that he wasn’t talking about just reading, or using a daily devotional, but really digging into the texts through study in order to provide the Spirit with the biblical foundation He needs to draw us further into conversion to Christlikeness. Or, as Paul says, (2 Cor 3:18):
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
But this wasn’t the finale of his message. He underscored that studying and reflecting on God’s word wasn’t the goal, but simply the means to find motivation to do what it says. Of course, this is God’s intention for us. He’s not looking for a family of head-knowledge children. He’s looking for a family who uses the knowledge He has given them to best employ the gifts of the Spirit with which they have been equipped.
The Metaphor
When talking about studying God’s word, Steve took pains to point out how we are to approach it for our maximum benefit. Among other things, he suggested that all of our otherwise uncommitted moments (e.g. commuting, exercising, etc.) could profitably be used to reflect on the scriptures we had recently studied. This constant reflection on those words was the basis for what I thought was a powerful metaphor.
Steve brought up the image of a cow chewing and ruminating the grass he was eating. Not to be gross, but the process of ruminating is one of: 1) eating, 2) swallowing, 3) regurgitating into the mouth, 4) more chewing, 5) swallowing once again, and 6) repeat.
It’s a great metaphor because, as Steve pointed out, grass alone is not a significant source of protein. In fact, by itself, it is a poor source of protein. However, the cows that eat and ruminate it are one of the highest, most concentrated sources of protein available. They grow the flesh containing this protein by leaving nothing of their nourishment unused. All of it is put to good use.
And this is the image Steve invoked for how we should approach handling the words of God in the Bible. Chew it. Recall it. Chew on it again. Recall it again, until all of its value and wisdom have been exposed to us by the work of the Spirit.
Conclusion
I’m so grateful to Steve for bringing this message. Too few Christians today are even aware of the life Christ has laid out for them in growing in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord. And perhaps even fewer are aware that doing so requires some action on their part. None of us are just “zapped” with a perfect knowledge of God’s word and our role in living it out. We need to commit our minds to the job of being open to the Spirit’s leading for sometimes extended periods of time while contemplating God’s teaching. Steve’s point was this is what, as Christians, we have been called to do.
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