Recently, I did something foolish. It began with a decision to brew some specialty coffee as a morning treat for myself. Soon, the lovely cinnamon-hazelnut aroma filled the air. That was a treat in itself! With great anticipation, I poured the coffee and added cream. And that's when I committed my foolish deed. I carried my freshly brewed mug of steaming coffee to the computer. Big mistake! Before I knew it, the cup was empty, and I had failed to enjoy the coffee because I was so preoccupied at the computer. I missed out on the lovely taste. What a waste of good coffee!

Perhaps, you have occasionally committed such a foolish deed. Such events need not be entirely wasted; they can remind us of this wonderful promise:

Psalm 34:8 – Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. (NIV)

Well then, I ask myself, how might I fail to notice God's goodness? How might I miss the delightful experience of His lavish blessing? There's one clue in the verse itself: it's by failing to take refuge in Him. It's by not entrusting myself to Him as my wonderful protector and Saviour. It's by letting earthly matters and concerns rob my focus.

Undoubtedly, we all often fail to notice God's goodness. Really, that's a sin against God; it's disregard for His love towards us; it hinders our faith growth. John Piper, in his book Hunger for God, adds insight:

The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison, but apple pie. … The deadliest appetites are not for the poison of evil, but for the simple pleasures of earth. … The greatest adversary of love to God is not his enemies but his gifts. … It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality. All of them can become deadly substitutes for God.

You can now see how my foolish deed inadvertently drew my attention to a magnificent spiritual truth: God's children, you and I, are invited — rather, commanded — to "taste and see that the Lord is good". That's not a burdensome command. Rather, that's a magnificent law! It's a calling to know Him experientially, "to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" (Ephesians 3:18b NIV). Really, it's the greatest commandment, to love the Lord our God with our entire being. It's to trust our Lord entirely, to enjoy the fullest measure of His covenant love. In other words, let God love you!

Dear friends, whatever our situation, now and in the future, let us obediently entrust ourselves into God's most capable care. For that is how we can truly enjoy His beauty and taste His goodness … forever. It's the gift of salvation.

Prayer: Mighty Saviour, liberate us from whatever hinders our freedom to know and enjoy You for who You truly are. Amen.

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About the author:

Diane Eaton <dianeeaton6@gmail.com>
Paisley, Ontario, Canada
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