How do you taste?

How do you taste?

Maybe I'm a little slow but the verse "Taste and see that the Lord is good" got a whole new meaning for me last year. I always thought this verse was referring only to the Word of God. If you read His Word, you will taste and see that the Lord is good and it will make you want to come back for more! Now this is partly true but most non-Christians and even Christians don't spend a lot of time in the Word and so if this were only true they would never have the pleasure of tasting the Lord and seeing that He is good. So then what is this verse referring to? It is referring to US!

People are supposed to be able to "taste the Lord" through us! Jesus says that He is the vine, we are the branches. What grows on branches? Fruit! What do people do with fruit? They eat it! Guess what, our taste to others is often the only experience that they may have of the Lord. So what exactly is our after-taste when people leave our presence? Delightful and wanting more, or nasty and they'd rather not be with us?

"Nasty"

If you still are not convinced we are the taste of the Lord, here is another question for you, "What is the evidence of the Holy Spirit being in our lives called?" It is called the fruit of the Spirit. What is the fruit of the Spirit? Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. The majority of people do enjoy these traits and are looking to experience these things in their lives and in their relationships.

"Delicious"

So how do we know if we are tasting good? If you are brave a good place to start finding out is at home, by asking your spouse and kids what your presence leaves them feeling like. Often times, we save our very best for others and we leave those closest to us with the leftovers (ps I am talking to myself ~ no judgement or condemnation here).

So if we realize we don't taste so good what do we do? Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Matthew 25:29 "For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance." It is essential for us as Christians to spend time with the Lord on a daily basis. Not as drudgery or routine but because Jesus wants to eat with us! He wants to look into our eyes and remind us of who we are in Him. Then, because He is a generous God, He always gives us a doggie bag to take out of the abundance of being in His presence. What is the abundance for? It is for us to share with others and by us sharing it with others it should cause them to see that the Lord is good and leave them wanting some of the first hand stuff for themselves.

I am notorious for allowing food to sit for too long in my refrigerator. My husband has come to me more than once and asked if the food should look like this or if we are conducting a science experience in the refrigerator. The food was at one time good and delicious to eat, but if it has been sitting for awhile it begins to lose its desirability and gets gross. This is an example for us why Sunday mornings alone do not cut it. By Saturday, you are handing people moldy pieces of bread and saying, "Here, try this" and they walk away cringing. Sunday is important but do not rely on that alone to be your food.

So beloved, how do you taste?