From the object lesson presented by Sue Kostroski at the May 11, 2024, Ladies High Tea and Tasting.
Ps. 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.
Introduction
I hope you're enjoying the tea party and tasting event today. Have you had a chance to try all the teas offered? Do you have a favorite? What do you like about that tea? Can you describe its flavor? Describing the flavor of tea can be difficult. What about an orange? How would you describe the taste of an orange to someone who's never had one? It's difficult to convey a taste using only words. The best way for someone to understand what an orange tastes like would be to actually peel one open and try it, right? You need to experience tasting the orange to understand its flavor and to know how good it is!
Invitation
The theme of our tea party is “Taste and see ladies' tea and tasting”. The idea is from Psalm 34:8 which says: Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is he who takes refuge in Him.
What does the Psalmist mean by "taste and see that the Lord is good"? It is an expression that signifies experiencing something deeply, for example:
When you tell a really good story and say about the hearers, "They just ate it up!"
Or if you told a tall tale, you might say, "They swallowed it hook, line, and sinker."
Or maybe you are reading a really good book, and you tell a friend you devoured it.
Perhaps you read or hear something profound, you might say, "I need time to digest that."
We use expressions like these all the time, using language related to eating or devouring to express experiencing something deeply. The Psalmist is inviting us to taste, or experience for ourselves, that the Lord is good. He is inviting us to experience the goodness of God.
How - God’s Word
A great way to start experiencing the Lord and understanding His good character is by reading His Word, the Bible. The Bible is the Word of God, written by 40 authors from all walks of life and inspired by the Holy Spirit over a period of 1,500 years. As stated in 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."
Ps. 119:103-104: How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
God’s Word helps us to understand God, His love for us, and His Word directs us. It shows us how to live. If you have a hard time understanding the Bible don’t give up. Ask God to help you understand. You can also study with others in a Bible study or find a mentor who can help you.
God’s People: The church
Another way to experience the goodness of God is through the people of God, His church. There is a good reason the church is called the body of Christ. We, the church, are the hands and feet of the Lord. The church exists to glorify God in the world today and often that is done through very practical and tangible ways. I have personally experienced the goodness of God through the people of God, through my church families. I remember being a young mom, 25 years old with a little one about 2 years old and pregnant with number two when we moved to a new city, away from family where we did not know anyone. The first thing we did was we found a church. We were welcomed into a small group, and I remember when my son was born the ladies helped us by watching our daughter when we went to the hospital. They brought us meals for two weeks. It helped so much. I truly felt loved by God through the people of God. We moved away from that community 20 years ago, yet remain lifelong friends with people from that small group. That is just one example of many I could share with you. We have found loving support and a sense of community in the church families we have joined since. We have found a place of belonging where we challenge one another to live by faith and encourage each other to grow spiritually. We work together and worship together. We have moved around a bit, but we have always found and joined a local church where we have experienced the goodness of God through his people.
Another way to experience the goodness of God is through the people of God, His church.
Jesus
We can experience the goodness of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is Immanuel meaning God with us.
Col. 1:15 says “He is the Image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;”
We can learn about Jesus in the Bible. What he said and did while here with us will show you the goodness of God. A good place to start would be in the Gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are four very distinct yet harmonious accounts of the life of Jesus.
"John 6:35 Then Jesus declared “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. “
And in verse 57 "The one who feeds on me will live because of me".
You see, Jesus is the source and sustainer of spiritual life and vitality. I have to agree with the Bible teacher who once said, "God loves us more than we can possibly imagine." We can know that God loves us because according to...
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Jesus died on the cross for you and me, for your sin and mine and he invites us to come to him in faith, to trust and believe that he did this for us.
Col. 1:19 “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. “
God has made a way to fix the broken relationship between sinful people and a Holy God. It is through Jesus Christ. We just need to accept this gift of reconciliation from a very good and loving God.
Closing
Yes, Taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is he who finds refuge in him (Psalms 34:8). For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things (Psalms 107:9).
Thank you for coming. Let’s pray.
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