In His Likeness w/ AntTBri

Walk through any food court and you will encounter several opportunities to taste test items off the menu.  The marketing schematic suggests if you taste it, like it, you will buy it. So it is fair to say we usually invest in things that bring us delight. There are certain restaurants that I frequent because I have a taste for what I deem their specialty is. Most of these places have inspired me to create my own version of the dish. Imitation is said to be the biggest form of flattery.  What if we live and love in a manner that inspires others to want to do the same? If every time someone came in contact with you s/he experienced life and love differently; better yet they got a taste of what could be applicable, appropriated, and applied to their reality.  What if your representation caused them to want what you have? Would they taste the goodness of Jesus?

If you prepare meals that others enjoy, you know very well the satisfaction one feels when people taste test or sample your dish and love it.  You watch in expectation for their response.  I am the eldest of eight siblings, to date I have six biological nieces and nephews, and both my mother and father are yet in the land of the living (Thank You Jesus). Needless to say, I have a lot of experience in appeasing different palates and dietary preferences.   Over the years I have mastered several dishes and almost always prepare our holiday, special occasion, and just because “family day” celebrations. I also coordinate the decor and scribe the theme for our merriment. So it is safe to assume I am a “details” kind of person but I’ve learned in serving my family and friends that what they want and can handle has to stay in the forefront of my planning, preparation, and even serving. So I plan, prepare and present with each and every one of them in mind eagerly awaiting their request to taste test before we sit down as a family and eat together. I introduce them to dishes they would probably never try on their own, or I remix a recipe that’s traditionally prepared one way and serve it to them a new way. They trust my culinary expertise and have tried and liked a many dishes that add to the vastness of my marketable menu.

My brother Big Ron usually beats everyone to the punch, inquiring “what’s  this, let me taste it…Brina you don’t want them talking about you or saying it’s nasty so you mine as well let me taste it”. He always has to be the first to taste, comment, and compliment the dish even though he disguises it behind suspicion. You can count on his routine, just like you can count on eating well, and being full when you leave my dinner table.  But no one taste test like my niece Sehrea she is very animated and appreciative.  She has a way of applauding the smallest gesture that honors your effort and not too long afterwards she has her pen and paper in hand jotting down what she needs to do to make it herself.  If I didn’t like to cook…I’d still cook for her. I happily prepare our holiday, birthday celebration, and special family dinners because I enjoy surprising and serving them a variety of dishes they can’t wait to taste test and it is my hope that they will incorporate these items into their diets.

Bishops, pastors, ministers, evangelist, church leaders, Sunday school teachers and the likes prepare an assortment of meals for varied contexts and celebrations for a number of people weekly. Prayerfully these persons are deeply invested in their collaborative effort, as they work in conjunction with the Holy Spirit to bring about the desired outcome…the meal God wants served to His children.  He knows us, what we can and cannot digest and He gives the man or woman of God what to serve. He knows there are those of us who will be suspicious, reluctant, but willing to try something new.  Others of us, who will be satisfied sitting down to eat.  Those that love to be served and have no interest beyond their need being met. And then there are those of us like my niece Sehrea with our pen and paper in hand jotting down what we need to make it ourselves? Or are you perusing the courtyard of all things Godly, hoping to taste your version of delicious and delectable so you can buy packaged or containerized servings? Wouldn’t you love to be able to make it yourself?

Idealistically, when we sit down to the table to eat or partake of the living Word with them (our leaders )we are enjoying the taste test and our desire for the things of God enhance. So much so that we willing chose to sit with them on a continual basis because they are proficient in comprising Spirit lead scholastic study, skill, and strategy to procure the process and create the “meal”, the model, or manuscript for what will prove to be edible and enjoyable as we feast at the Lord’s table when we’re alone. We trust that what they’re serving is God’s heart on how we are to live and love our lives in His (God’s) likeness.   What’s your Bishop’s, pastor’s, teacher’s signature dish?  How is s/he serving Jesus?  Do you leave the table wanting to or can you prepare a comparable version (have you tried at least)?  Or are you like my siblings, totally trusting and eating what’s put before you without any regard for what it takes to create the dish?  You show up ready to eat, without any interest in helping or doing anything other than lift your fork to get full for the moment. Are you satisfied with knowing or saying “it was good”? Or do you want or long for more?  Do you know how to get to more?  Ask, inquire…make your request known…by all means place your order.

Maybe that’s the disconnect in terms of devotion: we’ve grown so accustomed to the taste test that we made that our only spiritual meal. I’m happy you’re enjoying the taste but can I tell you that your weekly worship experiences supplement the daily nourishment your Spirit needs.  Appreciate, applaud, and admonish your chef, your cook, those that share their culinary expertise with you as often as you can.  Paying closer attention to their style, learning, and then aiming to create the dish yourself will prove most advantageous in terms of developing and appeasing your growing appetite for God.  The joy you experience when shared with others will inspire greater desire in them as well.  We are helpers one to the other your developed flavor will add to the salt that yet has it’s savor…and others will taste test the manner in which we live and love in His likeness and desire to do the same.