Taste and See
Good Morning,
Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Ps. 34:8
My wife works at a coffee shop and bakery. And some of the baked goods can nearly change your life. They are that amazing. People come in and rave about them as they sit and enjoy the special treat. But what if people treated the scones and cinnamon rolls in the same way that some approach their relationship to God? It would look something like this.
“Hey, I found this bakery that has beautiful looking scones and cinnamon rolls. I just love looking at them. And you should smell the aroma when they come out of the oven. It is incredible. I knew I couldn’t just look at them any longer. I had to see the recipe. There was so much I learned from studying that recipe that I knew I needed to memorize it so I would have it with me in any situation. I’m so excited about these that I am getting a group of people together on Wednesday nights to talk about these delicacies and examine them more closely. I can’t wait to hear the perspective of others on how these look and smell to them. It is going to be so exciting to study them further!
Notice something pretty obvious? No mention of how they taste, and what a waste that is. Psalm 34:8 says taste and see that the Lord is good. It does not say study and talk about. It doesn’t say memorize and have a small group to discuss. It says taste and see.
Please hear me this morning. There is clearly nothing wrong with studying the Bible. Nothing wrong with memorizing Scripture and having a Bible study. There is something terribly wrong however, if you never taste and see, because that is what takes Christianity from a religious endeavor to a vital, life changing relationship. It is the person of Jesus Christ that gives life to all the facts and doctrine. Jesus did not die so we could be content with studying Him. He came, lived, died and rose again so we could know Him. And know Him up close.
Have you brought the person of Jesus into your daily life? Have you taken courageous steps of obedience so you can know for yourself that He really is faithful and trustworthy? Have you carved out time to sit in His presence to listen for His voice? Have you looked up at a starry sky and considered that the God who put those stars there has been thinking of you personally since before He created the universe?
What could you do to taste and see this week? It will change your outlook on life and the course of it as well. Then… get together with friends over a scone and you will have some truly amazing conversations!
Live this week on purpose,
Ron Klopfenstein
