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Devotional for the Week of 9 June 2008 Maggie Mee Theology Maggie Mee is a kind of instant noodles. Because it was one of the first brands that was made popular, most Singaporeans are familiar with it and call any brand of instant noodles Maggie Mee, even if it was not so. Just like all sticky tape is called Scotch Tape because the first brand was Scotch. Our minds are in tune to that which we train it to think for a period of time. If the first brand of instant noodles was Maggie, then over time, we tend to consider all other brands of instant noodles as ‘Maggie’ noodles. Maggie Mee Theology Most of us have the choice to eat good, delicious, fragrant, nutritious home-cooked food, yet we still gravitate towards Maggie noodles with very little dietary value. We are used to the idea of eating Maggie Mee. So we feed our spirits and our souls, including our children’s, with Maggie Mee. What we put into it will determine the health of our bodies. So it is with our spirit. I have coined a term, Maggie Mee theology, to describe this spiritual condition: Our human minds, with its propensity to sin and move away from God, tend towards the lowest denominator in the spiritual realm. In his book, Who Switched the Price Tag?, Tony Compolo says that the society we live in today teaches about an upside-down value system. What were we taught when we were young? What are our children taught today? Yes, they may be taught Christian values, but even Christians have a myriad of values. Not all good things in life and good ambitions for our children are God’s ambitions for them. Self-Denial or Self-Fulfilment? Jesus’ central message in today’s scripture passage is Mark 8:34: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself.” What makes a true disciple is his desire to deny himself. To deny one ’s self is to be willing to lose our lives for a cause. Jesus used even strong language to teach this principle to Peter when He says in Mark 8:33: “Get behind me, Satan. Get the devil out of you, Peter. You do not have the things of God but the things of men.” Maggie Mee can be addictive even though we know it is not good for us. We can fool ourselves into thinking that we can live on it for a long time without it harming us when in fact, God wants us to live on Him. What is constantly on your mind? The things of God, or the things of man? In recent years, I have met many persons who want to be involved in prison work or in Christian work or counselling. As I take a closer look, I realise that these Christians may be looking for fulfilment in life. Yet we mistake self-fulfilment for God’s calling and God’s basic demands on us as His disciples. We want to find personal fulfilment in our Christian families, our vocation or jobs, even our ministry in church or outside church. There is little place in our lives for dying to ourselves, even to our self-fulfilment. Self-fulfilment becomes central to our lives and we mistake it for what God calls us to do at each stage of our lives. Can we give the most treasured of our ideas, our talents, even our very lives over to God and let Him take control? True Discipleship Jesus gave up his most treasured portion, his family and his very life. Mark 8:31 says: “He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and then he must be killed and after three days rise again.” Jesus spoke so simply and plainly about what his own discipleship with the Father was like that it was difficult for Peter to swallow. As a result, Peter felt it was his duty to take Jesus aside to rebuke him in verse 32. Yet Jesus has revealed that if we do not accept suffering, we don’t understand true discipleship. How do we accept suffering in our lives? I believe the answer is found in Mark 8:29. Jesus asks, “What about you? Who do you say that I am?” Until we are so focused on God, so saturated with Him daily, we are not able to truly have in mind the things of God. So everyday, we focus on God. We can test ourselves by asking Do I know God? Do I really know who He is to me? Then only can we understand what it means to have in mind the things of God. So, what are you busy with today? What are you busy with every day? Are you able to give it up, and give it back to God and see if these things that occupy you daily are indeed bringing you closer in focus on God, or away from Him? Is it your job that is occupying your mind all the time? Is it your family? Are you able to give even that up to the Lord, to let Him have full control? Can you trust that He will not short change you? The Things of God In Judges 4:4-9a, Deborah was a prophetess who knew what God wanted of her. As a prophetess, she delivered the direct word of God to Barak, the one whom God chose to fight His war. But Barak was afraid to go alone. He lacked faith. So Deborah went with him but warned him that as a result of his fear, he would not get the reward that was due to him. Deborah was a wife and a mother. She had a full time job, busy with judging cases. But with God’s breakthrough, she put her life on the line to fight a war, right at the frontline. Was she not a mother with responsibilities? Should she not be more careful for the sake of her husband and children? What business was there for a woman at the frontline, especially in those primitive days of early Israel life? There were just so many considerations. As it is with all of us, we all have so many considerations in order to do the things of God. Deborah would have had many concerns but she submitted herself to God. Her mind was full of the things of God. A woman or man must do what God must have us do. Jesus tells us today not to worry about what to do for God. If we would just have Him and His kingdom in mind all the time, the rest will fall in place. Let us reflect on what Jesus means to us daily, and all the rest will fall in place. Who do you say Jesus is? Do you love Jesus? Are you able to help your family to love God so deeply? Are you willing to lead your family into full denial of self and full commitment and sacrifice to God? Friends, what are you feeding on today: unhealthy Maggie Mee or nutritious home-cooked food? Fill your empty stomachs with the nutritious things of God, rather than the things of men. Maggie Mee may be easier and faster to cook, and captures your basal taste buds. But God’s food, God’s ways bring glory for all eternity. Choose wisely, choose daily, choose today. Devotional based on a message by Dr Jeannie Chiu Prayer Response “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:8) Lord Jesus, let me eat of the Bread of Life, which You have offered me so freely. Give me wisdom this day to discern between the things of God and the things of man. Help me make the right choices. Help me choose You today. In Your precious name I pray, Amen
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