Purple Hull Peas and My Bible Have Much in Common
This summer, I discovered that purple hull peas and my Bible have much in common. Listen up; there’s a lesson here.
One of the things I love about summer is going to the local farmer’s market and purchasing purple hull peas to put in my freezer, so my family can enjoy the taste of summer in the dead of winter. This summer after purchasing one bushel of purple hulls already shelled and ready to blanch and freeze, I complained to my husband that they were so expensive. Then I was convicted. I thought about it and soon repented for belly-aching.
After all, I didn’t have to plow acres of land for planting. In the first place, I don’t own acres of land. Also, I didn’t have to plant the seed, pray for rain, pull weeds, wait patiently for a plentiful harvest, pick peas in the hot sun, or shell peas. When our girls were young, shelling peas was their job, and they reluctantly displayed purple fingers to prove it. All I do today is blanch those fresh peas and store in the freezer for future consumption. When I don’t have time to “put up” the peas, I can always go to the grocery store and buy peas ready to cook and eat. They’re almost as good as fresh. Almost.
Likewise, I did not have to do massive research to write the Bible. In the first place, it was written over an approximate time span of 1600 years by forty different authors in languages I don’t speak. I never had to hand-copy it to preserve the written record. I never suffered or died for the truth in its pages. The sacrifice and hard work were done for me many years ago. I never even bought my first Bible; it was a gift. Today our church gives Bibles to those who don’t own one. I can read the Bible in any version on my phone at any time at no cost to me. However, the privilege of owning my thirty-six Bibles cost somebody, even many somebodies, something. May I never take for granted the blessing of holding God’s Word in my hands again.
“Thank you, Lord, for purple hull peas and my Bible!” From now on, I will be thankful and enjoy every purple hull pea I eat with that warm slice of cornbread. And I will appreciate my Bible and thank God for loving me so much that He gave me His precious written Word which outlines the beautiful story of His Son, Jesus Christ, and all He did for me.
God invites you and me to His table today for a feast that truly satisfies our deepest longings.
“You prepare a table before me…” (Ps. 23:5).
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body’” (Mat. 26:26).
“Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” (Rev. 19:9).