You are Tofu

Me

In our home, we like to be creative with our food as much as possible. So Ashley and I have tried all sorts of concoctions and strange food combinations.

We have experimented with different tamale flavors. We have found some that work and some that don’t. If you are tired with the original tamale flavors such as green chilies, beans, and cheese. I do not recommend replacing that with strawberries.

We have found that there are some weird ideas that don’t sound good, but are actually delicious like pear cake. Surprisingly good!

One of the things we eat quite often that most don’t, is tofu. And after years of consuming tofu, there’s something I have learned.

God wants us to be like tofu.

You see if you don’t cook with tofu often you may have no idea what to do with it. It doesn’t have the most appealing texture. Its largely unattractive.

Its wobbly, unstable.

Tofu is wet.

It doesn’t have hardly any flavor at all.

We

Often we are like tofu in this way, but God wants to transform us into tasty, sturdy tofu.

But how do you take tasteless, wobbly tofu and make it bursting with flavor and not so mushy?

One could use a tofu press.

A tofu press is designed to extract all the juices out of the tofu. Because tofu is like a sponge, it soaks everything up. And just like a sponge, if the tofu is full of juices, it can’t soak any flavor up either.

So in order for tofu to get some good flavor from a peanut sauce, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, etc. It first needs to be emptied.

We are just like tofu. In order for us to not be boring and flavorless, we to need to be emptied so the Holy Spirit can pour all of His goodness into us.

For when we are full, we can’t receive a single thing.

God

The problem that most of us run into is that we don’t like being emptied. It is hard to let go. But it is what is needed most for spiritual growth.

Quite possibly the great chapter on church and spiritual growth is Acts 2.

Jesus has ascended to heaven and has given His followers a tough command. Not simply to spread the gospel or to evangelize, but to wait.

Wait for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

So they waited and prayed for many days.

It seems that in the book of Acts, the believers learned to pray without ceasing. To pray until God answers their call.

Have you ever prayed for a long time? Not 5 minutes, an hour or two? What happens? You realize that you can’t pray for the same things every time. You realize that prayer becomes deep and conversational.

Powerful prayer requires powerful devotion.

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The believers become all in with their mission.

They devoted themselves to the word and fellowship and prayers.

When something was needed. There was no debate of who would sacrifice, because all would chip in.

Because they understood that it was impossible for them to do anything apart from Jesus.

It was in that prayer room the 120 believers began to understand the power of surrendering daily to Jesus.

They began to understand Jesus’ words.

Luke 9:23–25 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

The cross was a tool of torture and death. This not a simple request. Its simple to understand but difficult to implement. But it is necessary.

All who choose to follow Jesus must take up their cross each day and follow Jesus.

Jesus is talking about submission and surrender.

God doesn’t ask for submission and surrender because He is egocentric or selfish but because He knows that is the only way we can receive power from heaven.

Jesus himself could do nothing. Unless He had first surrendered all to His Father.

John 5:19 ESV

19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

John 8:28 ESV

28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.

You see its not simply enough that we pray, but that we surrender everything to God.

When we place everything in His hands, that is when great things happen.

Why?

You

Because we are like Tofu.

Bland and gross.

But when you give everything within us to God. When we empty ourselves.

The beauty and goodness of God can enter.

God’s spirit can fill us up.

That is when God can begin to work within us each and everyday.

We need to be pressed. We need to die in order for Jesus to live within us. Just as the Father lived within Jesus.

We

What if we say well I don’t want to give up those things?

Friends, you are tofu and what you hold is flavorless and quite frankly gross.

But what the Father wants to give you is beautiful and full of impact.

If you want your church to grow.

If you want to grow.

Give everything to Jesus. Absolutely everything.

Become completely devoted to Jesus as if nothing else is of any importance.

Remember the words of Jesus.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.