Steeped to Perfection!
By Susan Klein
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
Colossians 3:16
Being a tea-drinker, I know the importance of properly steeping my tea to bring out the full, rich flavor. I also know that a really good cup of tea will depend not only on how long I steep it, but also on how hot the water is, as well as how much tea I use. Brewing a truly “perfect cup” of tea takes some time and a bit of effort, but the results are oh-so-worth it!By Susan Klein
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
Colossians 3:16
Letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly is much like the tea-brewing process. The idea of “dwelling richly” suggests that it takes some time and effort. If you were to just glance at the words and close your Bible, it would be like quickly dunking a teabag once or twice in a cup of water. The tea would still taste like water, as all the flavor would still be in the bag. It must be allowed to steep for a time to bring out its richness, much as the Word must be meditated on for awhile to obtain its full meaning. Also, if you only chose to meditate on a few words, rather than a full passage of Scripture, it would be similar to putting only a few tea leaves into the water. Your tea would be weak, not achieving the maximum flavor, nor would you gain the full meaning or intent of the passage.
Taking time to learn about the art of brewing tea, as well as the many varieties of tea, allows one to more fully appreciate its many benefits and delightful flavors. Similarly, spending time immersed in God’s Word, exploring its many hidden treasures, and letting it steep to perfection in our hearts and minds will allow His rich flavor to flow forth in our words to each other and in our praises to Him.
Take some time to enjoy a good steeping!
GOING DEEPER:
1. Is your life a richly-steeped testament to God’s Word, or is it a bit on the weak side?
2. What are you putting in your cup? Is it pure tea, or bits of tea mixed with artificial flavors and other non-essential ingredients?
FURTHER READING:
Joshua 1:8; Psalm 19:14; Philippians 4:8
Susan is our Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She is also involved in youth outreach ministry.
