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Everyone should read this. EVERYONE.
God bless~
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Psalm 34:8)
The Scriptures clearly declare that the knowledge of the Lord is for developing a relationship, not merely cataloging correct information about Him. Grace and peace are to be “multiplied to” us (2 Peter 1:2), not just memorized by us. “All things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3) are to be drawn upon for godly living, not merely listed to validate our orthodoxy. As we get to know the Lord, His goodness is to be experienced in our lives.
Our present verse is quite forthright concerning this point. “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good.” The Lord is good. He is merciful, kind, gracious, and patient. The Scriptures abound with declarations of God’s goodness. “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 107:1). This goodness of God is to be experienced by God’s people. “My people shall be satisfied with My goodness” (Jeremiah 31:14). We are to “taste and see” God’s goodness, not only to hear of it and talk about it.
How does a person experience the goodness of the Lord? “Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” God’s goodness is available for our personal experience whenever we trust in Him. “Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men!” (Psalm 31:19). When we rely upon the Lord, His goodness brings forth peace in our lives. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). When we depend upon the Lord, His goodness brings forth rejoicing in our lives. “Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name” (Psalm 33:20-21).
It should not be surprising to us that faith in the Lord is the pathway to experiencing His goodness. We have noted in a number of these meditations that faith is one of the relational realities that allows a child of God to live by His grace. Faith accesses grace (Romans 5:2). “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:25).
We trust in the Lord the more we get acquainted with Him. We trust in the Lord the more we seek Him to demonstrate His faithfulness. “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You” (Psalm 9:10).
Perhaps the most fruitful servant of the Lord in the New Testament was Paul the Apostle.
Perhaps the most afflicted, pressured, troubled man in the New Testament was Paul the Apostle.
Perhaps the most useful servant of the Lord in the New Testament was Paul the Apostle.
Do you see a pattern between Paul’s troubles and His usefulness?
Paul was pruned in every way imaginable - shipwrecked (that would be a patience builder), imprisoned (that would be a faith builder), beaten repeatedly (that would be a bitterness antidote), mocked, scoffed, and ridiculed (that would be a love builder), out of touch with everyone dear to him (that would be a hope builder), weak and sick and tired (that would be a prayer builder, with only the Lord to talk to), fighting demonic attacks 24/7(that would be spiritual warfare workout daily), and on we could go through the endless opportunities Paul had to grow through all those problems in life. And guess what? He took most of them. He let God prune away at him until there was almost nothing left but what was constantly useful to the Lord!
What is fruitfulness for the Lord? It is simply being useful for Him….
God wants to capture us by His love, harness us by His Spirit, shape us by His Word, and change us into usefulness by His PRUNING! That is what our lifetime is all about. The shaping, refining, pruning Hand of God is with us all through life—either we accept it and grow, or resent it and miss the eternal blessings.
Grace To You…
10. But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”11.Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 12. Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”13. But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”
Moses pleaded with God to let him out of his mission. After all, he was not a good speaker and would probably embarrass both himself and God. But God looked at Moses’ problem quite differently. All Moses needed was some help, and who better than God to help him say and do the right things? God made his mouth and would give him the words to say. It is easy for us to focus on our weaknesses, but if God asks us to do something, then he will help us get the job done. If the job involves some of our weak areas, then we can trust that he will provide words, strength, courage, and ability where needed.
