No fail, every time we meet up with friends from yesteryears, the topic reverts to our history—even those things not too glorious to recall. Yet, we are beyond offense. The ties don’t break. For we share a common past. Superficial as it may be, we are able to cover the offense. What more for those who have been bought with the price of Jesus’ blood on the cross?
If indeed you have tasted that the LORD is good.1 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit . . .2 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.3
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.4
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.5 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulations, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more that conquerors, through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, not things present nor things to come, not powers, not height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.6
Here are some practical applications:
1. Abide in Jesus and His Word. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, . . .7 Like newborn infants long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.8
2. Do your best. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.9
3. Put away evil thoughts and behavior. So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.10
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.11
Notes:
1. 1 Peter 2:3
2. Titus 3:3-5
3. 1 Peter 2:24
4. Galatians 5:1
5. Psalm 62:8
6. Romans 8:35-39
7. John 15:3-4
8. 1 Peter 2:2-3
9. 2 Timothy 2:15
10. 1 Peter 2:1
11. Psalm 34:8-10
