From Sampling to Surrender
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." – Philippians 1:6
Picture a shopper walking through a marketplace. They stop at a stall, take a small piece of bread offered to them, nod politely at the taste, and then keep moving. They never sit down to enjoy the full meal, never receive the nourishment that bread could provide. That is what the writer of Hebrews is describing when he says some have "tasted the heavenly gift." They encountered the goodness of God, recognized it for what it was, and yet did not remain.
A taste is not the same as a feast. A taste can be casual, temporary, and easily forgotten. A feast requires you to stop, to sit, and to receive all that is placed before you. Spiritually, this is the difference between a passing religious experience and saving faith. A person can hear the gospel, be moved by its beauty, and even participate in the life of the church, but if they never repent and trust fully in Christ, they remain in the sampling stage. They may appreciate Christ without submitting to Him.
Jesus never called people to come for a taste. He invited them to abide in Him. In John 6, He declared Himself to be the Bread of Life, saying that whoever comes to Him will never go hungry and whoever believes in Him will never be thirsty. He was not speaking about a one-time emotional moment, but a continual relationship that sustains.
If we only taste, we can walk away when the demands of discipleship feel too heavy or when the temptations of the world seem more appealing. But when we feast on Christ, when we receive Him fully as Lord and Savior, we are transformed from the inside out. Our faith becomes rooted in Him, not in passing emotions or circumstances.
Reflection Question
Have you made Christ your daily bread, or have you been content with only tasting His goodness from a distance?
You can sample grace and still walk away, but you cannot feast on Christ and remain unchanged.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I confess that there have been times when I have treated You like a sample, taking small pieces without truly surrendering my life to You. I want to feast on Your grace, Your truth, and Your presence every day. Draw me deeper into full commitment. Nourish my soul with the life only You can give. Amen.
Picture a shopper walking through a marketplace. They stop at a stall, take a small piece of bread offered to them, nod politely at the taste, and then keep moving. They never sit down to enjoy the full meal, never receive the nourishment that bread could provide. That is what the writer of Hebrews is describing when he says some have "tasted the heavenly gift." They encountered the goodness of God, recognized it for what it was, and yet did not remain.
A taste is not the same as a feast. A taste can be casual, temporary, and easily forgotten. A feast requires you to stop, to sit, and to receive all that is placed before you. Spiritually, this is the difference between a passing religious experience and saving faith. A person can hear the gospel, be moved by its beauty, and even participate in the life of the church, but if they never repent and trust fully in Christ, they remain in the sampling stage. They may appreciate Christ without submitting to Him.
Jesus never called people to come for a taste. He invited them to abide in Him. In John 6, He declared Himself to be the Bread of Life, saying that whoever comes to Him will never go hungry and whoever believes in Him will never be thirsty. He was not speaking about a one-time emotional moment, but a continual relationship that sustains.
If we only taste, we can walk away when the demands of discipleship feel too heavy or when the temptations of the world seem more appealing. But when we feast on Christ, when we receive Him fully as Lord and Savior, we are transformed from the inside out. Our faith becomes rooted in Him, not in passing emotions or circumstances.
Reflection Question
Have you made Christ your daily bread, or have you been content with only tasting His goodness from a distance?
You can sample grace and still walk away, but you cannot feast on Christ and remain unchanged.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I confess that there have been times when I have treated You like a sample, taking small pieces without truly surrendering my life to You. I want to feast on Your grace, Your truth, and Your presence every day. Draw me deeper into full commitment. Nourish my soul with the life only You can give. Amen.
Recent
Archive
2025
March
The Way to TruthLiving Water in a Thirsty WorldThe Narrow PathKnown by GodEternal Life Starts NowThe Relentless Pursuit of LoveFaith in ActionGoing Where Others Won’tJesus Changes EverythingOvercoming Fear to ShineMaking Heaven CrowdedReflecting His LightSalt of the EarthLetting Your Light ShineFueling Your LightShining TogetherThe Call to Surrender
April
The Paradox of DiscipleshipFrom Fan to FollowerThe Cross We CarryThe Joy of Full SurrenderThe Fruit of SurrenderThe Perfect PlanThe Root of Our ProblemThe Perfect SacrificeFreedom PurchasedLiving in VictorySent with PurposeThe True Cost of LoveFrom Darkness to LightBreaking Down BarriersVictory, Not VictimhoodLiving in FreedomThe Invitation Still StandsThe Stone Was Already MovedBreaking Free from the GraveyardGrace Before PerformanceMeeting Jesus in the HurtStepping into BeliefFrom Doubt to DeclarationThe Daily InvitationLetting Go of the OldWalking in New Power
May
Breaking Free from the Chains of ShameStepping Boldly into New LifeLiving the Resurrection DailySelf-Reliance to SurrenderDaily Steps of FaithTrading Comfort for ClarityThe Beauty of Faithful ObediencePurpose in the WaitingOur First Response, Not Last ResortThe Heart Behind the PrayerTrusting in the UnknownTrusting Beyond Our UnderstandingThe Generous FatherGod's Will Is a Relationship, Not a PuzzleLiving with Renewed PurposeDaily Bread, Not Emergency MedicineWalking in the LightFrom Hearing to ObeyingThe Word in Our Darkest MomentsHolding Hands with JesusAnchored by Truth in a Drifting WorldThe Purpose in the PauseDiscipled by Speed, Developed by WaitingDivine Redirection, Not RejectionFaith Forged in the FurnaceThe Divine Appointment in DelayStrength for the Stretch
June
When Fear Meets FaithThe Promise of God's PresenceReleasing the Grip of ControlBringing Fear into the LightHeld by Nail-Scarred HandsCourage for the Next StepFinding RestThe Freedom of HonestyWho’s Really Leading Your Life?Rest Looks Like Being With HimRedefining Rest, Redefining WorthLiving From RestDesigned for JoyThe Purpose in PainCollapsing into ChristThe Journey of HealingHope Has a NameGod is Still WritingUnderstanding Holy AngerThe Danger of Lingering AngerFinding Peace in SurrenderThe Power of ConfessionThe Path to FreedomFrom Anger to RedemptionThe God Who Steps In
No Comments