The Pie Was a Lie

Read The Daily:
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” – John 17:3

I had just finished dinner with some friends when I made a decision I was both proud of and a little ashamed of: I was going to stop by McDonald’s and grab two Pumpkin Cream Pies. Now listen, I love those things. Like, genuinely. I have a personal quota of how many I want to eat before they vanish for the season. So even though I was full, the craving was real. I pulled into the drive-thru with a mission and the kind of hope only a seasonal dessert can bring.

But hope started fading around the 15-minute mark. I was still stuck in the same line, engine humming, watching other cars move quicker in different directions. And then I got the text from my wife: “I know you just ate… but it shows you’ve been at McDonald’s for over 30 minutes. Are you okay?” I was caught. I had to make a choice: shamefully drive away or see it through. And my parents taught me to not be a quitter lol. So I waited… and waited… and finally got the bag.

I opened it. One pie. I paid for two. Thirty minutes, post-dinner shame, a disappointed wife—and only half the dream. Isn’t that what life feels like sometimes? You set out expecting something quick and satisfying. You see others getting theirs faster. You think, This should be easy. But then it takes longer than expected. You don’t get what you hoped for. And to top it off, there’s disappointment from others—or worse, yourself. That’s when frustration hits hardest.

And yeah, it’s just pie—but it’s also a picture of life. We chase things thinking they’ll fill us up, and when they don’t, we’re left disappointed, frustrated, and hungry for something more. That’s because the world runs on a different recipe. It teaches us to go after Performance (prove yourself), Pleasure (do what feels good), and Possessions (get more stuff). But Jesus shows us a better way. A fuller life. One where you’re already approved (UP), one where you serve instead of use (IN), and one where giving is greater than grabbing (OUT). Real life isn’t found in the drive-thru—it’s found in truly knowing Him.

Prayer for the Day

God what are you  showing me?  What am I going to do about it?
God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?
Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.

Read The New Testament In A Year

4 x 6 Plan | Read: Mark 7:1-13 & 1 Corinthians 14:1-12

One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They noticed that some of his disciples failed to follow the Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating. (The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions. Similarly, they don’t eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to—such as their ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles.) So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.” Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” Then he said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition. For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents. And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”  Mark 7:1-13

Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened. Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle? It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space. There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me. And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.  1 Corinthians 14:1-12

Read More – Bible Project Overviews: Mark, 1 Corinthians