“Do you want the combo?” My response is normally, “Just the sandwich.” Admittedly, though, the combo is appealing. The price difference between the sandwich and the remainder of the combo will often sway my better judgment. Go big or go home, right? Except the total calorie count way exceeds my recommended daily allowance, so I am going home bigger.

Unfortunately, many Christians take the same selective approach when it comes to the Christian walk. They will take one aspect and decline the others, failing to realize that God’s “combo” is far more balanced than the meal deal combos in fast food restaurants.

God’s combo starts with the sandwich: meat, bread, and some extras. Jesus is the main course. Jesus told the Jewish religious leaders, “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:48, ESV) He is the package through which eternal life has come to us — the bread around the meat (figuratively speaking). He went on to tell them, “For my flesh is true food [‘meat indeed,’ KJV], and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” (John 6:55-56, ESV)

Jesus is the main event. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, ESV) There is no “deal” apart from the main course. I need to make Him the primary focus of my life, reading everything on the wrapper (Word of God), because “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … and the Word was made flesh.” (John 1:1,14, KJV)

But like a three-legged stool, the main course alone will not stand. You need the other two “sides” to have the complete deal. This is where my combo illustration breaks down. It isn’t the drink and fries that we need. We need to be in community, and we need to serve.

None of us is brought to salvation to live for oneself. Every believer is given one or more spiritual gifts to use in the Body of Christ. The Apostle Paul told the Corinthian believers, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7, ESV) The fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 are developed in community with other believers. Who am I to be patient with? To whom do I show kindness or gentleness if not another believer?

Finally, we are to be serving. We serve one another by using our gifts within the Body to teach and minister as He has called us to. We give of our time and money to advance the Kingdom. And we serve the world at large by being His ambassadors. “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:20) We serve the world by telling it of this awesome combo we have found through Jesus Christ.

As we live out this Holy Trinity combo in our lives, we are showing the world and each other the faithfulness of our Lord and Savior to bring His Kingdom near to a lost world. A balanced life is a joyful life. If the joy is missing, some part of our spiritual life is out of balance. When you have the whole combo, your joy will be full (John 15:11).

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!