A TASTE FOR GOD

O taste and see that the Lord is good:
blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.
Psalm 34:8

When just a few months old, babies begin eating baby food, often the commercial kind purchased in grocery stores. Babies seem to really like the fruits which have some sweetness to the taste. There are some mixed foods like chicken and vegetables that seem to be palatable to most little ones. Then come the vegetables. Most perhaps are taken into the little mouths and swallowed with not much resistance. However, it's in this area that the funny faces begin to appear. Little heads may turn or little mouths twist in silent protest that what they are tasting isn't acceptable. I've always been surprised at some of the vegetables baby food companies encourage for the very young. Where a baby may wince at the taste of spinach, he may like spinach when older. What makes the difference?

This may sound elementary, but there is a lot in babies that aren't developed physically. We all know that, but don't think of some of the little integral parts that are important..I refer to taste buds. That's an area of development in the beginning stages. Some baby foods may not taste just right to a baby. Baby food companies have toned down certain foods that may be strong in tangy taste so they are aware that there must be some compensation for strong taste in foods to a little one. Where a baby may shun carrots or spinach at one year and under, they may develop a taste with maturity for those same vegetables in a few years.

Taste is something that is acquired. Generally we develop a taste for things through exposure. Frustrated parents wonder why a child of theirs dabbles in some things they do that brings them down or into serious trouble. It doesn't happen overnight. Generally a bad crowd is involved at school or even at church. With a teen's exposure to the wrong influences, a parent's worst nightmare begins. The exposure usually encourages more and more negative behavior and rebellion toward parents. Exposure of the wrong things in the lives of our children is common and of major concern and bad tastes culturally develop.

What about we adults? We don't just jump into the things of the world that affects our taste for the things of God. We are as easily drawn aside as any child by our exposure to those things that are not of God. I have spoken with women who little by little found themselves away from the Lord, no longer living for Him and wondering how it all happened. Our tastes are developed through exposure.

I wish you could have known my sister Kay. I admired just about everything she ever did, even from a young age. She always had good taste in clothes. She had a sense of style that I admired. I used to say that she could dress in a burlap bag and look good. She was pretty with hair in place, neat as a pin. She had a beautiful alto voice even from high school on and at the time of her Home-going was active in her church choir. She was a godly woman, loving the Word of God. She raised two godly daughters. My list could go on and on. In appearance, I was always a slob up against Kay. Even though I was the older sister, she was an influence on me more than she knew. I loved being “exposed” to her, a godly woman of great taste.

When we come across those who influence us with their class and good taste in so many ways, we are affected by them whether we know it or not. Inside, we want to adopt some of what they are into our own lives. We may want to look better, talk better, serve more, etc. This happens in us because of our exposure, that helps us in developing good,godly taste.

Taste is also at times experimental. I've heard of developing a taste for certain foods. The only way that can happen is if we actually taste the food in question. There are still foods I don't have a taste for and never will no matter how often I taste them. Taste is developed by exposure to whatever the food or drink may be. I hasten to say that the same is true of spiritual taste.

I don't know how often I heard in my life, “Come on, Glendarae, just taste this...try it, you'll like it.” When someone has to beg me that much, I figure the experience isn't going to be good. The purpose of tasting anything is with the hope we will like what we've tasted. All over our area, there are places where one can go into a store and take part in free wine tastings. Why would an establishment have such a thing? Those merchants are hoping with the tasting, a person will enjoy what they taste and will buy more of what was merely tasted.. Taste can take us in many directions.

Our opening Scripture verse encourages us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” The thing with our tasting the Lord is that there is a trust that develops in us with this in-depth exposure to Him. This tasting and seeing the goodness of the Lord is not a one time thing. When tasting of Him with consistency, we will be drawn even more to Him. Acquiring a spiritual taste takes time and in that time, helps us love Jesus more. We hopefully will want more and more of who and what He is. Hopefully tasting of Him will create in us a deep hunger for God that will be on going.

My hope for each of us is that we will develop a deep taste for the things of God. Too often, I have settled for just snacking on the things of God. Snacking isn't healthy in most cases. It doesn't build the human body in healthy ways. Spiritual snacking doesn't build strong, spiritual bodies. May we enjoying feasting (and yes, tasting) on the things of God and come to develop a loving and ravenous appetite for our Lord.

Father, thank You for the privilege of eating from Your Word and drinking from Your fountain of life. Thank You for sending Jesus to make all of this possible. Thank You for loving me and giving me the privilege of being your child. In Jesus' precious name....Amen