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Does My Faith Pass The Taste Test?
Jon Burgess“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:26-27
I love how straightforward this is! I don't have to wonder what God's taste test for true religion is? If my life is given to saying what ever I think or feel then it is clear that God does not reign over my life. What I say reveals who has a say in my life. Then James reminds us that actions speak louder then words. It doesn't matter how pious I sound or convincing I am to those around me at how Christian I am. If my actions don't add up to caring for the orphan, the widow and the needy then I'm just false advertising!
There's no better smell to wake up to in the morning then the smell of bacon. So better sound to wake up to then the sizzle of bacon from the kitchen. Nothing ensures I'll get out of bed in quick order then the promise of the salty, crispy, thick-cut hickory smoked meat candy called bacon. Imagine my dismay when I walk in to the kitchen with mouth watering and I find a plate of turkey bacon staring me back in the face. It looks like bacon. It smells like bacon. It's not bacon. It's poultry formed to resemble something that it is not. If you are fooled by the looks the taste test will reveal the falsehood. Instead of crunchy, smoky goodness that makes my tastebuds do the jig I end up with a mouth full of soggy cardboard. I felt like I was chewing on band aids rather then bacon. Sadly, this is what God says my faith is like if I'm corrupted by the world around and serving self interests rather then those around me. It's false advertising. It's setting people up to have a bad taste in their mouths. After an interaction with me if the Jesus I say I follow isn't seen in how I'm living then my faith doesn't pass the taste test! No more turkey bacon Christianity! My talk has to match my walk it doesn't work! I serve a real God of love so I'd better be showing the real love of God!
Lord, thank you for the fresh reminder this morning that what's cooking in my soul is more important then what's cooking in my kitchen. There is so much fake news these days. So much false advertising. I want to be the genuine article. That when the world invesitgates my claims about You it will be proven through Your genuine love being expressed through me to the world around me.
