Do you enjoy a nice cup of steeped tea? Perhaps you prefer a good cup of brewed coffee. I enjoy several varieties of herbal tea. I’m not a Tea Sommelier; someone trained in the knowledge and history of tea. I’m just a simple girl who enjoys a nice cup of herbal tea.
As a child, my youngest wanted to “make tea” and, in her excitement, she ran to me and declared that the tea was well “stooped.” Fast forward to the present day, my daughter surprises me with a wide variety of delicious herbal teas, which we often enjoy together. Our preference is a nice chai blend.
No matter our choice of beverage, the art of choosing, preparing, and savouring our drink can remind us of other daily routines, such as spending time with God.
Our journey to the heart of God requires our time, attention, and passion so that we can grow in our knowledge and love for Him. “Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met” (Luke 12:30, The Message).
I always thought that those who knew God best, the so-called experts, were the theologians. Recently, I heard a pastor say that anyone who is growing in their knowledge of God is a theologian. Which begs the question, how much time do I spend in His Word?
Do I quickly read a verse or two without taking time to savour the meaning? If I quickly dip my tea bag in a cup of water, the result is a weak-tasting drink. My preference is for the bag to be left in so that the tea is fuller and stronger as I drink it. It’s much better to slow down and enjoy the taste, the warmth, the aroma, to take a breath, a pause, with tea and with God’s Word.
Just as there are multiple varieties of teas, there are also many ways individuals can be drawn closer into communion with our Lord. For some, it’s enjoying God in nature; for others, it may be worship music, liturgy, or solitude. I can make my tea sweeter with honey, or my chai creamier with dairy. Similarly, I have found that prayer and bible study can be richer and more deeply satisfying when shared in community. It’s delightful to experiment with different varieties of our preferred beverage, and there is great wonder to be found in getting to know people of diverse cultures, faiths, and denominations.
We want our hot drink to be hot, not lukewarm. When it comes to our relationship with God, He warns against being lukewarm. “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16). Our lack of zeal leaves a bad taste in the mouth of our God. We must do our best to “present ourselves to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2).
So, whether we’re perfecting the art of making a bold cup of tea or infusing our spirits deeper into a richer relationship with our Lord, let’s make sure it’s well-steeped!
Susan Page is the daughter of the King, His beloved child, wonderfully forgiven and blessed! Susan longs to age gracefully, becoming more like Jesus as she seeks the hidden treasures revealed to her through Scripture, literature, the arts, humankind, and nature.