A Taste of Things to Come
“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Psalm 34:8
Is it time to eat yet? The words easily slip from your mouth when you’re hungry, you walk into the kitchen, and then inhale the savory aroma of turkey roasting in the oven. Even though the oven has been checked three or four times before, your nose keeps telling you that “this bird is done!”
But not yet. Not quite. The turkey is still cooking. It needs another hour. Then it needs to rest on the kitchen counter. When that’s done, there’s still another 15 minutes to carve the turkey and plate it next to the mashed potatoes and yams. All this before you actually lift that drumstick to your mouth.
It may smell like dinner is ready, but it’s not. It’s almost time for supper, but not quite. That aroma is so powerful, it has your mouth watering. You’re hungry! The scent of something in the oven has whet your appetite, and you can hardly wait!
The same thing happens when we taste and see that the Lord is good. To know Jesus, to read his Word, to experience his grace every day – it’s like catching the fragrance of the presence of God. When we first embraced Jesus as Lord and Savior, it was like inhaling the aroma of Immanuel, “God with us” and suddenly, we became acutely aware of a hunger deep inside. And we wanted to know more. We wanted to experience more of God. Suddenly, our souls were hungry for more – much more – than this world is able to give us.
For those who embrace the Savior, God has “whetted our appetite” for something more wonderful to come. His kingdom has arrived, but not in its fullness. We have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, but the banquet, the real feasting is still on the horizon.
Pray with me: Lord, thank you that you’ve provided us with blessings in this life in such a way that it whets my appetite for the life that is to come. I so look forward to that day that is coming soon when I will get to sit down with you at the wedding supper of the Lamb – the real holiday dinner! Thank you for giving me foretastes of the joy of your eternal presence and for stoking my hunger for you.
The Power of Hospitality: Finding Healing and Wholeness in Community
In today’s churches, people—especially those living with disabilities—often feel lonely, isolated, and unknown. Rosaria urges Christians to practice hospitality, community, and inclusion, embracing the healing and wholeness that God intends for the church and each of his children.
