Taste and See

NOTE: This is a written version of the "Word of Wisdom" (devotion) I delivered on December 3, 2024, to Trail Life Troop VA-1874.

One time we had some chicken on the counter and the cat came begging, but not for chicken. He was begging for his evening meal of cat food. There was seasoned, scrumptious chicken as one option and dried brown nuggets as the other option. Sometimes, our cat has jumped up on a counter in search of a delicious meal, but this time, he begged. He didn't beg for chicken. He begged for cat food. He didn't long for something better. He longed for the same old routine food he had day-to-day, same texture, same substance, same routine. Sometimes, we do that with God. God offers us something better, but we settle with contentment with our life as is. Now, I'm not saying routine in and of itself is bad, but I am saying that God calls us to more. We are to grow in Christlikeness. It takes an entire lifetime and then some. We will always fall short this side of Heaven, but that is the process of sanctification and we are justified in Christ alone. And sanctification is a process of change. God loves us as we are, but loves us too much to leave us as we are. That's why Jesus came to offer us redemption from our sins, to take them upon Himself while offering His righteousness in exchange.

In Galatians 3:3 (NIV), Paul writes the following:

Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?

Paul wrote this because they were trying to do things in their own strength instead of relying on God to do the things only He can do.

Yet, how many times do we settle for some temporary tickling of our ears or some other temporary satisfaction instead of the eternal things of God?

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) says the following:

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Where are your eyes fixed? Are you focused on the things of the world or the things or Heaven? Are you storing treasure amongst your idols or are your treasures in Heaven?

Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 (NIV): "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Don't beg for the unsavory, dry food of the world. Rather, long for the food God offers in Christ. Consider Psalm 34:8 (NIV), which says the following:

Taste and see that the Lord is good;
     blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Are you taking refuge in Jesus today?

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