Will You Get Out of the Kitchen?

Daily Devotional – Sunday, August 6, 2023
Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2 Timothy 2:19 (NKJV)

You have probably come across this saying: “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” We use this adage to tell a person to cease complaining or stop performing an action that they find difficult or unpleasant. In other words, you cannot be in the kitchen and avoid heat and smoke.

Depart From Iniquity

In the spiritual realm, whenever our lives contradict the teachings of the Bible, we should expect disapproval from those around us, irrespective of whether they are fellow believers or not. Moreover, sometimes, people will criticize us unfairly, for mistakes we never committed. Whichever way, we cannot avert disapproval.

The Apostle Paul gives a special reason for this fact in his second letter to Timothy. Paul affirms, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19). God, Satan, and the world expect that anyone who professes to follow Jesus must turn from wickedness. Sin and righteousness cannot coexist.

Facing the Smoke and the Heat

The day you stood before believers and non-believers and declared you had renounced the world and followed Christ, you exposed yourself to censure. Indirectly, you told the world to judge your words and actions against the godly standards you had acceded to. In essence, you agreed to go into the kitchen and face the smoke and heat.

Consequently, if you cannot stand the heat of fair or unfair judgment from fellow Christians and society, get out of the kitchen of faith. Conversely, as long as you confess to being a follower of Jesus, people will expect you (and rightly so) to live by a higher standard of speech and conduct. They will point out your sin and demand that you reform.

Will You Get Out of the Kitchen?

It is a mockery of the gospel to believe that being saved by grace through faith is a license to continue sinning. Similarly, it is ridiculous to imagine that we can live without scrutiny from those around us. Self-sacrifice and self-denial for the sake of Jesus remain critical pillars of the Christian calling.

Is the heat of criticism so hot that you want to get out of the faith kitchen? What do you value more? Your pride (which is hurt when people censure you) or your faith (which grows when you accept criticism and change)? Remember, Jesus is ready to forgive you and help you overcome your weaknesses as He prepares you for heaven. Stay put in the kitchen!

Prayer
Lord Jesus, by Your grace, help me turn criticism into opportunities for character transformation and to remain in the kitchen of faith despite the heat.