Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! | Psalm 34.8
When I was little I hated mushrooms. I would pick them off of pizza and out of beef stroganoff. They were slimy and tasted like dirt. As I grew up, they began to bug me far less and I simply left them in place when they were served. Then one day I liked them; a few years later, a fine mushroom was a great culinary delicacy. I now love mushrooms and use them in my cooking (so my kids can pick them out). The same can be said for brussel sprouts, asparagus, and spinach (still working on kale).
Why am I telling you about my childhood eating habits? Partially to give hope to any of you with picky children. The other reason is to make the connection to our spiritual taste. None of us are born with a desire for the things of God. As a matter of fact it is the exact opposite: we have a natural inclination toward sin . In order to overcome this, in order for our tastes to change, we must be willing to mature. Unlike the maturation that happens naturally in our physical bodies, spiritual growth requires work. In order for our tastes to change, we must seek God and use the means He has given us to grow.
Over the last 3 weeks we have looked at the ordinary ways God has given us to mature: Bible reading, prayer, and the sacraments (practiced in the local church). These are the ways that we learn to love God and taste and see Him as good. You may not always enjoy reading the Bible, prayer, or going to church, BUT THAT IS NOT THE POINT. They exist to grow you so that you can enjoy God. He doesn’t change, but He calls us to, and He promises us that we will learn to taste if we just keep trying.