Taste & See

Back in the 1970’s, a lady named Debbi decided to open a bakery shop and
sell her homemade cookies. She found a great location for her store, put
ads in the local paper, and had a display case full of cookies ready for
her grand opening. At the end of the day, Debbi hadn’t sold any cookies.
Not a single customer even came into her store. The next day, Debbi
decided to do things differently. She left the door to her bakery open so
people walking by could smell her cookies while they were still baking in
the oven. Instead of staying inside behind the counter, Debbi stood on the
sidewalk outside her shop wearing an apron and holding a tray of fresh,
warm cookies. She invited people to come inside her bakery, look at some
of the made from scratch treats and try a free sample of her cookies. That
day, Debbi sold all the cookies in her bakery and people have been eating
her cookies ever since. As a matter of fact, you’ve probably eaten one of
Debbi Field’s cookies. That’s right, Debbi started the Mrs. Field’s
cookies brand.

Churches can learn a lesson from Debbi Fields. We cannot expect the world
to come clamoring to our doorsteps until they know we value them and want
them to be part of our fellowship. Too many churches sit behind “closed
doors” and wonder, “Why do the people never come in?” We must go out to
where the people are and allow the love of Christ to flow through us. Once
they see that we really care about them, people will be more responsive
when we invite them to come and worship with us.

Jesus commanded us in Mark 16:15 to, “go into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature.” It simply is not enough to preach and teach the
Word of God inside the walls of our church buildings. We must carry that
message to where the lost people live and work. Between now and Easter,
won’t you take the love of Christ that we experience every time we gather
together and reach out to the people who need Him? I pray that every one of
us will take the time to share the love of Christ with our neighbors so they
can “taste and see” that the Lord is good!