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In The Garden Daily Devotional
Series: A Walk Through Matthew
"Taste Great! Less Filling!"
Pastor Wayne Clabaugh
SCRIPTURE TEXT: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on
an hill cannot be hid." Matthew 5:14 (KJV)
Do you remember the infamous beverage commercial "played" and "improved
upon" at every Super-Bowl game touting the theme
of, “great taste” or
"less-filling"?
I know it’s a risk – but I just had to take advantage of
this commercial for the Glory of the Lord.
If you remember the commercial - people who had tried
the product were in conflict as to whether the beverage
had a “great taste” - or it was “less-filling”.
Just because something tastes good, does not make it
nutritional or “good” for you. Just look around you. The
United States is the "heaviest" nation per capita in the
world. We have eaten ourselves into poor health and are
the leaders of the world “at risk” for heart
attack, stroke, and a hundred other illnesses, because
of our life-style. We have heard the call from the world
that said, "Oh taste and see that I am good..." and we
have filled our bodies, our minds, and our emotions with
elements of pending doom - if we don't wake up and do
something about it. One would have to say - while we may
have thought that lifestyle "tastes great", it was
certainly not "less-filling"!
Yet there is a flip-side of that - that may fit the concept of
both our text for today as well as that infamous
beverage commercial. Look at the text for today:
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an
hill cannot be hid." Matthew 5:14 (KJV)
"Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a
bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto
all that are in the house." Matthew 5:15 (KJV)
The word taste is described in Webster's Dictionary as:
"having perception, experience, or enjoyment"; or to
"take part in” or “experience something along with
others".
Taste is a relative term, and in relation to
Christianity we have catered to the tastes of the world
far too much! By doing so... the Gospel we are
communicating is "less-filling".
People don't want to hear about commitment, and
consecration. They prefer the "God-Lite" version of the
word. Don't bother me with such things as, "...the soul
that sinneth it shall die" (Ezek:18:4); or "Jesus said
unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."
Matthew 22:37 (KJV); Let alone the verse that says,
"...Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Matthew
22:39 (KJV)
Jesus never meant for you and I as Christians to
"fit-in" for Jesus' sake. He expected us to “make
spectacles” of ourselves. Spectacle: meaning "something
exhibited to view as unusual, notable, eye-catching, or
dramatic; an object of curiosity".
If your style of Christianity is "just fitting-in" or
“not making waves", chances are you are of the
"God-Lite"
group. Your worship may seem tasteful, but unfortunately
it’s also "less-filling". Sort of like lighting your
candle and putting it under a bushel. (ref., Luke 11:33)
The "God-LIGHT" style of religion is one that stands out
on the hill-top and declares that “Jesus is Lord“. They
are excited, and alive, and give the Light to all the
world. Which are you?
Father: Make me a God-LIGHT witness, ZESTY with flavor
and not just “less-filling” . Teach me to
trim my life with the shield of faith, the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
WORD of God. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
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