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"Tasting
The Goodness
Of The Lord"
Message summary: Today’s text exhorts us to "taste and see that the LORD is good".
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Years ago I walked through our kitchen and decided to help myself to a fresh cookie still on the cookie sheet Brooksyne had set out to cool on the counter. As I began eating it, I thought, "Phew", it sure doesn't taste like the good cookies Brooksyne typically bakes.
Turns out she was making homemade dog treats for our dog who was named Penny at the time. It was the first time she made dog treats, so it's little wonder that I thought they were treats for me, Stephen, not the dog. She did say to me after finding out what I had done, "Didn't you notice the shape of the cookies looked like dog biscuits since I used a cookie cutter in the shape of a dog bone"! I can't say that I even noticed; I just spotted the "cookies" and tasted them before even thinking about the shape of the "cookie"!
Let's move onto the spiritual application that follows our opening illustration today. The Bible uses different word pictures to encourage us to live for God. Today’s text exhorts us to "Taste and see that the LORD is good". Last night Brooksyne left a couple of homemade cookies on the counter for me before leaving for choir practice. They were not in the shape of a bone, so I could clearly see that they were for me and I indulged and they tasted good.
Their taste may be based on a faulty teaching or unanswered prayer (as they saw it). Perhaps they’ve observed the hypocritical lifestyles of immature believers or had little exposure to the Bible or Christianity. Many see only the shameful antics of those on TV, the radio, and even in some local churches who claim to represent Christ, but have false motives even as Paul spoke of in Philippians 1:17: "The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains".
Some have refused to even taste, for they consider God to be a killjoy or One who disapproves of all activity that’s deemed to be fun in life.
And then there are those who have sampled but never actually filled their plate with all that the Lord has in store for those who follow Him with all their heart.
Peter enjoins us to discard malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander: outlooks which lead to one being spiritually malnourished. Instead we are to seek wholesome spiritual nourishment, “like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” (I Peter 2:1-3). It seems likely Peter is alluding to Psalm 34:8, our first daily text here.
Some people feed on controversy, dissension, or juicy gossip. Instead, as believers, we should feed on the goodness of the Lord. Go ahead and load up on the delightful provisions He has prepared for us. Don't just sample but load up your spirit with all that He has for you to taste and to savor. Let us taste of God’s goodness each day so that we look to Him for His provisions even in the worst of times because we trust in Him. Let us regularly feed on the kindness of the Lord and invite others to join us at the supper table of the Lamb!
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, whet
our appetite
for spiritual
food that
brings
sustenance and
growth as we
partake of the
Bread of Life.
May our hearts
hunger for the
wonderful
promises,
provisions,
and principles
revealed
throughout
Your Holy
Scripture. As
we regularly
taste of these
nourishing
nuggets we
will become
spiritually
mature and
strengthened
in our faith
so that we can
trust You even
in the worst
of times. In
Jesus’ name we
pray. Amen.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Psalm 34" Watch on YouTube Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
"Goodness
Of God"
Watch
on YouTube
Rachel
Robinson
I made special trips yesterday to take the Amish teachers to and from school. Normally I drive for one week each month but one of the other drivers hit a deer. Each morning the teachers load the back with stuff they take to school and then load up again on the way home.
Only one school has a hill suitable for sledding so Becky took a sled to school to add to the sled collection they have. Each teacher told me that regardless of how cold it is (yesterday was in the mid-teens) the children wanted to go outside for recess. They sure enjoy playing in the snow and one activity is "snow battling" which we would call a snowball fight. Their zeal for playing outside reminds me of my childhood and even into my adult years (although not so much anymore).
Ester found these photos in our non-digital photo collection from about 1994 when we pastored in Taunton, MA. As you can see from the photo we had a huge snow storm that winter.
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Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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