Taste & See // Psalms 34:8

Have you ever been to the Word of Coca Cola where you can taste their products from around the globe? It really is fascinating to me how some beverages appeal to different people in different places with different palates. Taste in and of itself interests me, too. For example, I find shrimp revolting (part of that is due to my shellfish allergy, but that’s a blog for a different day) whereas some might feel nauseated at the thought of my affinity for spicy food. God made us all unique in that way and I think it’s wonderful.

Adults have 2,000-4,000 taste buds on the tongue. Other sensory areas in the mouth, throat, and nasal passages work together to give us our sense of taste. Here is something I found especially intriguing: our taste buds regenerate about once a week. This helps explain how you can regain your taste after burning your tongue on piping hot pizza, coffee, etc.

Our verse for the day encourages us to taste and see that the Lord is good. God doesn’t want you to just sample His word, will, and way like you might the various beverages at the World of Coke; rather, He wants you to savor the feast, chewing slowly, and enjoying each and every morsel. Did you know that our word, meditate, comes from the ancient verb, to chew? This means that God wants you to get the most flavor, texture, and nutrition from each and every bite. This proves to be a common metaphor throughout the Bible. Jesus said in Mathew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” He also said these words found in John 6:53-56, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.” It’s plain to see, and imperative to know, that Jesus presented Himself as the source of spiritual nutrition.

I hope you will take some time on this Friday before a long weekend to taste and see that the Lord is good. He made every one of us unique and different, which adds so much zestiness to the world. I hope that your 2-4,000 taste buds can savor God’s goodness. May today help you regenerate more than just your taste buds, but your heart, soul, mind, and strength as well for the week ahead. Don’t look just to sample and snack the power of the Spirit, but develop deep cravings for Christ. I assure you that you won’t regret one bite!

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Photo Credit: YouVersion Bible App