Taste and See part 5
I don't remember what we were going to eat, but someone asked Logan if he wanted some. And he said, "I don't like it. Learned that the hard way!" Which was his way of saying he'd tried it. Which is all I, as a parent, expect him to do. I'm not one of those "eat three bites or else" types of parents. And probably because, if you know me, I don't eat things I don't like. I don't like green stuff (except Mt. Dew) so when I get a burger, or whatever, I get it plain with ketchup. Maybe cheese and bacon if that's on the menu. But I digress. The point is, I "encourage" Logan to try it. And if he doesn't like it... right on. Like my mom always says, "If you don't like what I cooked, there's peanut butter and jelly!" (And Logan doesn't like peanut butter either, but that's not the point.) The point is, you don't know if you'll like it or not unless you try it. Unless you taste it and see. Give it a chance. What was that cereal commercial? "Hey, Mikey! He likes it!" Something like that. But, unfortunately, we are species of settlers. Its amazing to me what people will put up with. I'm here to tell you, having nothing IS better than having the wrong thing. But while we long for something better, we don't seem to believe we deserve anything but the worst. The grass seems greener, but its not available to us (we think). So we just keep chewing the cud. Staying right where we are. Doing things to numb the pain. Escapism. Killing ourselves to make a living (which is insane, in my opinion). Especially when there is so much more available to us. I threw this verse out on my FaceBook the other day I want to use it to close down this Rant series: "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). And I like it even better in the NLT, "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." A couple of things to notice. First of all, Paul wasn't even talking about HIS needs. He was encouraging others. He wasn't saying, "I'll be ok. God's got my back." Trying to pump himself up or anything like that. He was pumping others up. With that first hand knowlege that God HAD (and still did, or does, if you follow me) his back. He did it for me, He surely will do it for you. Paul had tasted it and seen it. And so Paul was ready, willing, and able to share it. He was a witness to what had already happened. What was available. And that's the other part. "Which HAVE BEEN given to us in Christ Jesus." Already given to us. Nothing we can earn, because it is what we already have. And, unfortuately, we seem to have to get to rock bottom before we're willing to give something radically new (and love IS radical, by the way) a try. But that's my heart. Give it a try. Taste it and see. If its not for you... ok. At least you tried it. Learned that the hard way! But learned it nevertheless. And, since we're talking about God's love... the desire of our hearts... the thing we all NEED in order to truly live... I don't think its going out on a limb to say, "Try it... you'll like it." Go ahead. Put it to the test. Its available to us. Jesus set the table. All we need to do is open the door (of our heart) and let Him in so we can sup together. Share a meal together. Share His LOVE together!