How We Learn the Taste of Truth
Following Jesus, not just his followers
It was with some apprehension that I took the yeast out of the fridge. My husband is the one who has all kinds of experience baking bread, but he was still at work, and my son’s homework project was due the next day. His sixth-grade teacher had tasked them with bringing in food that represented some element of the book they were reading. Henry wanted to make bread rolls for the first title in the Hunger Games series.
I told him to look for a recipe that had the words “easy” and “quick” in the title, and then he assembled all the ingredients.
“Baking is kind of a science,” I told him. “We need to make sure we read through all the steps and follow them carefully.”
My son is fairly independent in the kitchen so I took a step back and supervised—until, that is, it came to the yeast. He was about to dump a sloppily filled tablespoon of yeast into the batter when I stopped him.
“Measurements matter!” I reminded him. “Make sure the whole tablespoon is filled and level across the top.”
When it came time to take the rolls out of the oven, a test bite revealed the wrong consistency. We had to nearly double the cooking time. Once we did, my son and I split a roll, and although he was enthusiastic about the results, I knew something was off. They didn’t taste quite right but I couldn’t pinpoint why.
Later when my husband got home and I was telling him about the recipe, he found the problem after one bite.
“How much yeast did you put in here?”
When I said “two tablespoons,” his eyes widened and he started to laugh.
“A bread recipe shouldn’t call for more than two teaspoons!” he told me.
Certain I had not made a mistake, I checked the recipe again. Sure enough, it called for two tablespoons. We had followed the instructions faithfully, but we had chosen the wrong recipe.
A similar phenomenon can occur among Christians today. Although we seek to follow Jesus, there is no shortage of Christian influencers, faith leaders, and Christian celebrities who offer to show us the way.
This isn’t new. When Paul addressed the believers in Corinth about divisions in the church, he said:
“For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not all too human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” (1. Cor. 3:4-7)
Paul had to remind the believers in Corinth that he and Apollos are only servants of the gospel, and that it is God who is the source of spiritual growth.
This natural tendency to learn from, follow, and emulate the people in our lives is amplified in our world today. From our church pastors to the hundreds of voices online, we have no shortage of people who claim to help us follow Christ.
And many do!
I’m thankful for the spiritual wisdom of these voices—people who I greatly admire, found in the pages of books, in little squares online, or behind pulpits. These leaders have challenged me, encouraged me, and pointed me toward Truth.
The temptation we face is when we listen to these leaders exclusively instead of going straight to the Source ourselves. Because it’s much easier to hear what these voices are saying than training our ears to hear God’s still, small voice. It’s easier to digest the spiritual insights of others than it is to dig deep and study God’s Word for ourselves.
If we’re not careful, faith leaders can be a spiritual crutch that rob us of the opportunity to know God for ourselves. As a result, we may not be able to discern when someone’s recipe points to something other than the good news of Christ.
There’s another danger in following others without exercising discernment: Some voices out there are actively seeking to deceive us. They may be motivated by ego, power, or greed. Their message may sound harmless on the surface, but when you dig deeper or follow their logic, their conclusions don’t match what Jesus lived and taught.
The apostle John assures us that, as believers who confess that Jesus is Christ, we have been anointed by the Holy One. As we abide in God and God in us, the Holy Spirit teaches us the truth (1 John 2:20-27).1
John gives us a measuring stick for discernment:
“The children of God and the children of the devil are revealed in this way: all who do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love their brothers or sisters.” (1 John 3:10)
Jesus showed us the right and loving way through his actions and his words, and it is the work of sanctification to become more and more like Jesus.
As we grow in faith, may we learn to appreciate the wisdom of others while going straight to the Source ourselves. When we listen for God’s voice, we won’t be swayed by every new recipe for faith, because we’ll know the taste of truth. And when we’re tempted to rely solely on someone else’s recipe, may we remember: we’re invited into the kitchen to discover that God’s Word is alive and nourishing.
I so loved chatting with Bekah Stewart this week about our spiritual journeys! Bekah shares how traditional models of spiritual formation (often shaped by male perspectives) tend to focus on overcoming pride. But for many women, the deeper struggle is self-erasure: shrinking or hiding before ever being seen. She invites listeners to imagine a spiritual life rooted in awakening to our God-given worth and calling. Listen here and get the show notes here.
Something that made me laugh: She’s the kind of girl they write books about
Something I made for YOU: The Best Book Gifts of the Year (and What to Pair Them With) I’ve never had more fun putting together a gift guide than thinking about what would pair well with my 12 favorite fiction reads of the year! I hope you enjoy it!
Something I read and loved: When It’s Chaotic In and Around You by Ruth Chou Simons on Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young’s Substack. “We serve a God who doesn’t struggle with chaos and isn’t deterred by the complexity of our problems. No political turmoil, global health crisis, personal finance upset, or chaotic set of circumstances can disrupt his sovereignty. We belong to an unshakable kingdom ruled by an unshakable King.” I needed to hear this. Maybe you do, too?
Something I listened to: The Sacred Act of Letting Go on the Our Time to Rise podcast was a phenomenal listen, especially if you are in a season of discernment! I loved the questions they shared in the middle, and at the end of the episode.
Something I’m cooking: I’m about to declare it soup weather around here in San Diego! Next on my list of recipes to try is this Slow Cooker Creamer Potato Corn Soup.
I’m running a Thanksgiving sale in my Etsy shop and these cards are proving to be a big hit! For the next week, you can grab these 30 Days of Thanksgiving Cards for 30% off with code TGIVING30. Enjoy!
Until next time,
I encourage you to dig into 1 John 2 for yourselves, wink wink!
The end to your opening story — wow! I immediately saw its application. Then I appreciated your commentary afterwards🙌🏻