Help Me Find the Stairs

Chocolate

Count it all joy my brothers when you encounter various trials, know that the testing of you faith works patience, and let patience have its perfect work.  James1:2-4

             The other night I was drinking hot chocolate and I heard from the Lord.  I love to drink hot chocolate, especially on a chilly evening.  I was thinking about the different kinds of hot chocolate. Once, my child decided to make his own hot chocolate. He stirred chocolate chips into a glass of milk and was very distressed that it did not taste better.  Then there are the instant hot chocolate mixes.  They taste good, but often leave clumps of chocolate at the bottom.  Finally, there is the good old-fashioned hot cocoa, where you heat the milk and stir in cocoa and sugar.  Nothing quite compares with this. 

            Believe it or not, there is a spiritual application here.  All of us are in different places with God. Some are just beginning to be open to the word and it has not taken root in their lives.  Their walk with God is like the chocolate chips and milk. The good things of God’s word and his spirit are present, but they are not able to make much difference yet.  Others have come farther with God and are letting the word and the spirit affect some area of their lives. They may have cleaned up their language or behavior.  They are becoming sweeter. They still have clumps in their lives, though. These are areas where they have not allowed God to touch, for some reason.  Finally, there are those who are trying to let God into every area of their lives and live by the power of the spirit.  They are like the old fashioned hot cocoa, a sweet sacrifice to God.