Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Tasty Words!”
“My mouth chews and savors and relishes truth— I can't stand the taste of evil!” – Proverbs 8:7 (MSG)

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” – Psalm 34:8(NIV)

Words are how we communicate. No new revelation there I would assume or at least I would hope. But how we communicate certainly gives our words weight and power. One of the ways we communicate is to provide visualization to our words—or attach emotion by using experiences or metaphors that we may be familiar with. For example: take the phrase, “sour as a lemon.” If you have never eaten or sucked on a lemon then those words or that phrase would have little power or meaning. But for those of us who have had that experience you can almost feel and see your lips begin to pucker up.
Here’s another: “It’ll make your mouth water.” Immediately what comes to my mind is thinking about a favorite food and at the moment the aroma of that food reaches your nostrils your mouth is anticipating the first bite.
Then there are those that are entirely metaphorical in nature. For instance, “I’ll make you eat those words.” Making someone regret a statement they made. And in a line from a recent movie: “How did those words taste coming out of your mouth?”
Metaphorically speaking…Solomon is attempting to have us make the application when it comes to our thoughts about God! About how we think of God and the life He so desperately wants to instill in us day in and day out. Which is why I absolutely love the verse from Psalm 34; “…taste and see that the Lord is good…”
What do you do when you are hungry—I mean the kind of hunger where your body is weak and you can barely lift your arms, move your legs and even breathing becomes laborious? To eat is all you think about and it is all you want to do. That is real hunger. That is a deathly hunger that destroys more than just the body—it breaks apart the soul and causes the mind to lose focus.
We are born with a natural hunger. We are born wanting. We are born needing. It is part of humanity—both physically and spiritually. I have noticed what so many in this life “feed” on. They attempt to supply their appetite in ways that has absolutely no nutritional value…spiritually speaking that is. It is like living on a steady diet of fast foods. They may fill one for the time being—but eventually it can make one a candidate for the reality show, “The Biggest Loser.” Not the place you want to be.
So, Solomon bids us to savor the flavor of God and His Word and truth. Here are some of the “spiritual foods” that we need to be nourished on!
Taste Love…the way it is meant to be experienced. Love that is real, unconditional, complete, and strong. Taste the kind of love that gives more than it takes—it fulfills and motivates one to be their best. That is the Love of God.
Take a bite of Grace. Feast on the amazing compassion that is given from the heart of forgiveness. Don’t attempt to earn God’s favor with spicy or super-sweet words. The only words that will earn God’s favor are these: “Please forgive me!” Those are words He wants to hear and that is when His Grace is applied!
Chew on truth. The very thing that Proverbs has sought to bring to light. The truth that God’s ways are the only way to live. His commands are to be observed—not out of fear of reprisal but as the means to give life strength and purpose.
Don’t settle for “fast food!” Savor the Words of Truth that are available to us at all times!
Pastor J. T. Carnell