Last week I took my boys to an ice cream shop where the shop boasted 50 different flavors of deliciousness. Ice cream is my fave, so aside from the MIA pearly gates, I felt like I was in heaven.
When it came time to order, the server leaned over the counter, peered down at my youngest, and asked, “What’ll it be good sir? What flavor would you like today?” In all sincerity he said, “I’ll take a little bit of everything, peeeease.”
The whole shop laughed.
Later that evening while reading scripture to my boys, my eldest son corrected me when I read Psalm 90:17:
“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us…”
“Uh, mom, I think you mean flavor.” I laughed.
But then he asked me a very insightful question:
“Do you think there are 50 different flavors of God? You know, is God like the ice cream shop?”
“You bet!” I blurted. “God created every single person on this whole entire planet, and since we are all made in God’s image, God has way more than 50 flavors. He has like, billions of flavors.”
“Wow! God sure has delicious taste, doesn’t He?” More laughter.
The whole scenario got me thinking…
What does it mean to have the flavor of the Lord rest upon our lives?
I believe it means variety.
I believe it means diversity.
I believe it means unique creativity.
Like Noah. God used his life by way of an ark, and a flood, and a whole lotta animals. Noah walked with God obediently and faithfully did all that God commanded of him… and God flavored his life with a rainbow.
Like Moses. God used his life to walk through a red sea, and a desert, and live through plagues, and slavery, and freedom, and to lead an entire nation…. and God flavored his life with the fire of His presence and a cloud of His glory.
Like Gideon…
Like Samuel…
Like David…
Like Abraham…
Like Joshua…
The list goes on and on.
And like YOU!
God is using your life by way of a big city, or a small town, as a teacher, or a nurse, or a dentist, or fill-in-the-blank, all the while leading you through your own red seas, deserts, floods, plagues, as you move from slavery into the freedom of your individual calling.
Why?
So the flavor of His variety, diversity and creativity is made evident in and through you while people visit the shop of YOUR life – so when people interact with you and they need a certain flavor of God, your unique skills become the rainbow, the fire, the cloud and the promised land of God.
The coolest part?
You are the flavor of Christ to other people, but you also have unending opportunity to experience the flavor of Christ each and everyday of your own life. Every morning you wake up, as God peaks over the counter of heaven, He asks (if you’re open): “What’ll it be good sir? What flavor would you like today?” And each of us has the beautiful freedom in Christ to say: “I’ll take a little bit of everything, please.”
And He gives it.
He just hands us a scoop.
“May the [FLAVOUR] of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.” -Psalm 90:17
