Last week Dave and I were in the grocery store and I was looking at the varitey of artisan breads . One loaf in particular caught my eye – Jalapeno Sour Dough.
Oh my!
It was absolutely delicious. I’m so glad I tried it. It was a definite “I would do this again”. As I sat thinking about that bread this morning I began to see a little correlation between buying that loaf and faith.
I could have said “Dave, I bet this bread is delicious. It will be great with those steaks we’re going to grill”. And then I could have walked on, leaving the bread on the grocery shelf. Or perhaps I could have taken it one step further and purchased the load and taken it home. Unpacking the groceries and moving it to the pantry I might have made another remark about how good I imagined the bread to taste but as of yet I still wouldn’t have known the true richness of its flavor.
To experience the wonderful goodness I needed to open the wrapper, cut a slice, warm it for just a couple seconds and taste!
“O taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who trusts in Him!” Psalm 34:8 NLV
Once tasted (experienced) there is no denying the goodness. I can tell you how delicious I think it is, I can even put a plate with warm slices in front of you but you won’t get the full benefit until you take a piece and taste for yourself.
One Bible writer says that faith is substance of things we hope for; it’s a tangible confidence. Faith is confidence in what the Lord has done for us. I can tell you of my experience with the Lord and you can be moved by my testimony but each one of us has to experience His goodness personally.
Faith without corresponding action isn’t really faith, it’s merely supposition. To say “I wish I could have the confidence that the Lord will always be with me” or “I hope someday I will be at a place where I can give the Lord all my fears” or whatever other thing it might be without personally experiencing God’s love and goodness would be like me saying “I bet that bread tastes delicious and walking away without ever experiencing it for myself.
I can say that I have faith the bread will bring me strength when I’m famished but if I never lift my hand to take a piece and eat it; I could starve. Christ has paid the price for us and God has given us all our own measure of faith.
“Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead, be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you.” Romans 12:3 CEB
Faith equals action. Taste and see!
What action does your faith need to take today? If you listen to the Holy Spirit he will show you what you need to do.
Be willing to put action to your faith.