Simple Evangelism - Taste and See
January 02, 2025
Simple, honest, caring, respectful, low-key, God-confident εὐαγγελίου (Announcement of Good News - Evangelism)
Insights from today's Psalm.
"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" -Psalm 34:8 ESV
How does do people take a taste of God?
That is what most people do before coming to faith.
They taste.
They listen.
The do some reading.
They investigate.
They hang out with God's people.
They involve themselves in discipleship.
They ask questions and explore.
At some point they come to a crisis of belief and decision.
Then they make one of four decisions:
1. Yes. I will follow Jesus! I want to do it now. We call that the "low hanging fruit."
2. No, but I am still open - just not convinced.
3 Not now - I am postponing the decision.
4. No. I can't buy into that at all. I am walking away.
It is not our job to set and enforce the timing on the crisis of belief and decision or to assume that everyone is at that moment in the moment we meet them or the first time we share the message of Jesus and His call.
Our job is to invite, "Taste and see that the Lord is good."
It is also our job to keep inviting.
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The rest of the Psalm:
Psalm 34
Benedicam Dominum
I will bless the Lord at all times; *
his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
I will glory in the Lord; *
let the humble hear and rejoice.
Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; *
let us exalt his Name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me *
and delivered me out of all my terror.
Look upon him and be radiant, *
and let not your faces be ashamed.
I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me *
and saved me from all my troubles.
The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him, *
and he will deliver them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; *
happy are they who trust in him!
Fear the Lord, you that are his saints, *
for those who fear him lack nothing.
The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
Come, children, and listen to me; *
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Who among you loves life *
and desires long life to enjoy prosperity?
Keep your tongue from evil-speaking *
and your lips from lying words.
Turn from evil and do good; *
seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, *
and his ears are open to their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, *
to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
The righteous cry, and the Lord hears them *
and delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted *
and will save those whose spirits are crushed.
Many are the troubles of the righteous, *
but the Lord will deliver him out of them all.
He will keep safe all his bones; *
not one of them shall be broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked, *
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
The Lord ransoms the life of his servants, *
and none will be punished who trust in him.