“O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). How true this verse is! For anyone who experiences the goodness of God, it is unforgettable.
He never disappoints. He is always good. The hungry, the needy, the searching, and the empty soul who tastes the kindness, love, grace, mercy, faithfulness, thoughtfulness, and care of God will always find that taste to be good!
With this in mind, the Bible tells us that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, called to bear fruit (John 15:1-11). Often, it is through the fruit of our lives that others get a taste of God.
When we are with others, they get a taste of who we are—and who God is—through our interactions, responses, words, and actions. The fruit of our lives is on display. People experience the fruit that comes from a branch connected to the Vine, Christ Himself. When they taste that fruit, does it inspire wonder at how good it is?
I remember attending the memorial service of a dear friend, Johnny Trimmer. He was a great talent with the voice of an angel. We led hymn sings together—he sang, and I accompanied him on the organ. During the service, the officiant asked the crowd if Johnny exhibited certain traits—the nine qualities listed in Galatians 5:22: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Each time a trait was named, the crowd responded with a positive affirmation. I was deeply moved. If you knew Johnny, it was easy to see these fruits clearly in his life. What an honor it is that the final thoughts about him were affirmations of the fruit of the Spirit! Because of this, I will always remember him in the best way possible—a man who bore good fruit.
Ministry, too, requires good fruit. Sometimes we assume that our leaders bear no bad fruit. We look to pastors and leaders as godly examples. But as one of your pastors, I can say honestly—we are only human. We live under the same mercies that renew every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Every pastor who hears his call will always be “simply human.” We have all made mistakes and will likely make more. It is only by God’s infinite compassion and grace that we can continue to lead His church. Our desire is to live godly lives, but we need your prayers—for strength, steadfastness, and that any mistakes we make have minimal impact.
In our humanity, we struggle. Yet,
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.” (Jeremiah 17:7)
So, I ask you: Do you have love in your life? Joy? Peace? Forbearance? Kindness? Goodness? Faithfulness? Gentleness? Self-control? Answer honestly. If you find yourself lacking in any area, know you are not alone. Keep working at it and ask God to make you whole. I do this daily, and will continue until I hear the call to come home. I pray that when I am gone, people will remember only the richest, most delectable fruit I produced.
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