Taste And See (The Lord Is Good)

Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! [Psalm 34.8]

If we only would take this to heart and not only just believe it, but walk it out.

God is good and only does good. Everything God does is good. Anything God involves Himself in is good. God is good.

There is a lie of the enemy that people at large believe without questioning near enough. That lie is that God sometimes does bad things to good people. Where would anyone get that idea? In light of scriptures like the one from Psalm 34 above (and many, many more just like it), how can we pin anything that is "not good" on God?

For ages, some people have piously used the Book of Job in the Bible to prove that God does bad things to good people. But, anyone who actually presses in to the story of Job (as opposed to just relying on what commentators say) will see that Job had to repent in the end! In other words, Job was not as "good" as it seemed! "Good" people don't have to repent! The whole story begins to make sense once this is settled in our hearts.

God is good and only does good. We are compelled to "taste and see His goodness."

How do we pray in the face of obvious curses? How do we respond to sickness, tragedy, loss, and death? We have no hope of responding to these things like Jesus did until we understand that God is good.

And, you know what?

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. [2 Peter 3.9]

We should consider what Peter wrote here every time we have the tendency to question God over our circumstances. Our problem is not a "God problem," it's an "us problem."

Jesus said this:

‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ [from Luke 24.47]

"Forgiveness" is what brings every blessing from God. But forgiveness only applies where there is repentance. What Peter was saying in the scripture from him quoted here is that when we experience bad things, it is not something God is doing, it is something we need to get right in repentance!

And, you know what repentance is at its basest form? FAITH. And, you know what it takes to please God? You got it, FAITH. In fact, ONLY faith pleases God. Religion doesn't cut it. Doctrine doesn't cut it. Denomination doesn't cut it. ONLY FAITH PLEASES GOD and the only way faith works is from the starting point of repentance.

We will never "taste and see that the Lord is good" if there is any confusion over the source of bad things in our lives.

Father, help us to understand that You are good. Help us to taste and see...