Jesus Christ is your savior, my savior, and the savior of all mankind!
So what does it mean to prove Jesus?
Psalm 34:8-16 (WEB) says,
8) Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good.
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9) Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints,
for there is no lack with those who fear him.
10) The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger,
but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.
11) Come, you children, listen to me.
I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
12) Who is someone who desires life,
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13) Keep your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking lies.
14) Depart from evil, and do good.
Seek peace, and pursue it.
15) Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous.
His ears listen to their cry.
16) Yahweh’s face is against those who do evil,
to cut off their memory from the earth.
Jesus commands us to trust and obey him and boasts that God is good and there is no better salvation. However, to back up his words, Jesus asks us to prove him -- to test him. He says, "Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good." We are often like finicky children unwilling to eat the food that is before us. I never ate sour cream before I entered college because I did not want to eat anything sour! So then I tried sour cream on a potato and learned that sour cream is creamy! I loved it. I can no longer eat a potato without it! So what lies and misunderstandings about God's faithfulness have we believed and swallowed? Jesus invites us to prove him, to test him, to taste and see that He is good!
John 10:1-5 (WEB) says,
1) Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2) But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3) The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 4) Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5) They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.
Do not follow the voice of a stranger! Our good Heavenly Father has proved his love for us by sending his one and only son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. His love could absolutely not be greater. He challenges us to test his love and erase all of our doubts! He wants our whole heart without reserve and he is confident that he has all the love and forgiveness that we will ever need and more. Do you still have doubts? Taste and see that the Lord is good, but do not follow a stranger!
Romans 10:10-13 (WEB) says,
10) For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. 11) For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.” 12) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. 13) For, "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Jesus promises that when we give our lives to him, he will protect and care for us, guaranteeing that we will never be put to shame. Of course this does not mean that we will never have trials. Instead it means that Jesus will be by our side and be our defender through even the worst of circumstances.
Jesus challenges us to test him on his promises because he is so confident that he is and has everything we will ever need and want. Jesus is the best! Prove Jesus!
