If you drink coffee, you know there is a difference between a cup of coffee and a good cup of coffee. If you’re looking for something just to wash down the eggs and bacon at breakfast, then any cup will do the trick. But if you want to really enjoy a robust and flavorful shot of java, maybe your Keurig pod just won’t do.

I was a Keurig pod man until Christmas morning. All that ended when my wife ( Santa ) gifted me with a high tech coffee maker. My new gadget grinds the beans and delivers a fresh, high aroma induced cup of the good stuff. The machine has various settings so I can crank up the volume of caffeine with the touch of a button. The days of the stale Keurig pods are in the rear view mirror. The new machine takes a little more time but the end result is well worth the wait. Watch out, I’m jacked up on high octane.

As I enjoyed a robust cup recently, I was reminded of the strength of God’s word and the power it can bring to our souls. I’ve witnessed the "seeker friendly" church trends of the past several decades attempting to cram and pack God’s word into a Keurig pod. The scripture has been softened, self-interpreted, and packaged so as to make following Jesus quick, easy and convenient.

At the risk of sounding judgemental, I say to you Keurig pod folks, following Jesus is not easy and convenient. What God expects of us goes against our nature. Following Jesus cuts through all the world is prepared to provide. The commandments set forth for us to follow are challenging and require commitment, time and patience. These attributes do not come naturally and take a process to achieve and develop. It’s called spiritual formation and it doesn’t come in a Keurig pod.

Removing Jesus from the pod comes when you love and trust in Him more than in yourself. Go ahead, pour yourself a strong cup of Jesus.