Your words are sweeter in my mouth than honey! (Psalms 119:103)
A cooking fire smoked up the inside of a dirt floored restaurant in Nigeria.
“What are those?” I pointed at the morsels remaining in the serving bowl.
The Africans consulted one another about how to convey the answer in English. “The goat’s … testicles.”
As a missionary, I’ve been served a variety of delicacies—caterpillars, chicken feet, fish eyes. Some of it went discreetly to a neighbor and some went into my mouth. Proof that when I get hungry enough, anything tastes good.
My hunger for God’s word is much the same. When ease fills my life, prayer and Scripture are often like cold oatmeal. It’s only in the grip of trials that I hungrily press my face into every word from God.
The remedy for flavorless consumption of God’s word is to first contemplate how famished my shortcomings leave me. Only when I’m conscious of my dire need am I ready for the daily sustenance offered by Jesus, the true bread of life.
Jesus is my daily nourishment, but he is much more. He is also the honey that brings joy to life. Thus, I need a daily fare that includes a big helping of redemption, at least a spoonful of correction, and a dessert of his amber goodness melting in my mouth.
Prayer: Sustaining Jesus, may I taste your words today.