What are the finer things in life for you? Is it fast cars, fine clothes, exotic vacations or gourmet foods? It might be all of these, but for most it would center in some sort of materialistic extravagance. We crave to be fulfilled by the material world, yet it can never bring long-lasting satisfaction. God offers us the sweet life in Him. A life filled with good things and plenty of blessings, yet we fearfully resist His offer convinced that we wouldn’t like it. “Just try it!” “No, I won’t like it.” “How do you know if you’ve never tried it?” Sounds like mealtime with the kids. When it comes to God it doesn’t get any sweeter. When you are in a relationship with God you experience His good and His plenty and nothing can compare!

Scriptures
Ps 34:8, 91:1; Jn 8:36, 15:5; Mt 7:24, 24:35; Job 8:21; Eph 1:19-20; Gal 5:22-23; Rom 12:1

Verse
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
(Ps 34:8)

Thought
In Christ we experience freedom. Not the kind of freedom that drives 90 miles an hour on a winding mountain road, but the kind that frees us from guilt and shame and allows us to find refuge in God. When you are the child of the Creator of the Universe, everything is available to you! When you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you have a foundation for your life, a compass in times of trouble, a rock to sustain you. Knowing God brings joy and contentment far beyond anything material things can provide. There’s not just a little party, a little fun to look forward to on the weekend…there is inner joy that makes each day something to look forward to. There is also plenty of power when the Spirit of God has residence in your life. You become a producer of Godly fruit, a source of life’s best things (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). And as your relationship grows, so does your faith. God wants you to experience the thrill of knowing him fully, trusting him completely and following him wholeheartedly! The result is nothing but Sweet!

Questions
Why are some people afraid to turn their life over to Jesus Christ? What was your greatest fear about becoming a Christian? How can you explain to someone that giving up everything to Christ brings freedom? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you more than you did a year ago? In sharing your faith with a non-believer what would you say is the sweetest thing about being a Christian?

Response
God has a lot of good and plenty available to you. Consider how much you are allowing Him to give you, and what do you need to do to allow more of God into your life.

Prayer
Dear Lord, knowing you is the sweetest gift of all. Thank you for those who influenced my life for you. Help me to influence others so that they will want to taste and see that you are good. Allow me to open my heart to more and more of what you want to give. May I be your child and heir to all the good and plenty you have in store. In Jesus name I pray, amen.