“O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8
There is no doubt that I like food. On Sunday, I had a wonderful day of eating (despite the diet. It is all about working out and portion control for PB). I came home from church and Amy had a wonderful bacon sandwich ready for me on a croissant for lunch Hmmm, bacon. Then, for supper, she made this wonderful pork thai peanut noodle dish that is just scrumptious. PB’s stomach was happy. Plus, in between, I took a drool inducing nap. It was a good Sunday afternoon.
There is nothing like tasty food, like a great meal, whether it is in a good restaurant or a family favorite cooked at home. There is a feeling you get, a warmth that just covers your heart and soul, a feeling of satisfaction, of contentment, of happiness. But even the greatest meal (even one with bacon) does not come close to what it feels like to know that you are loved and saved by God in Jesus Christ.
As satisfying as a good meal is, knowing that I can take refuge in my Lord, knowing that the Lord is good, knowing that God showers me with mercy, blessing, and forgiveness, gives my soul a contentment, a warmth, a satisfaction that not even the best meal (even a meal at Famous Dave’s) can give me. Of course, I get the opportunity to have the greatest meal of all on a regular basis, the meal of Christ’s body and blood at Holy Communion. Through the bread and wine, we receive forgiveness, life, and salvation, things that fill our heart and soul more than a full stomach ever good.
Sometimes we forget that the Lord is good. Sometimes we forget that we have refuge in him, that we have a safe place to rest and strengthen when life gets hard and difficult. Even more so, we sometimes forget that everything we have in this life, including amazing meals and morsels of delicious food, come from the God who has created us, saved us, and sustains us in this life through the Holy Spirit.
“O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.” Taste the delicious goodness of God and know that in Him you always have refuge and hope. For that we can say, “Thanks be to God!”