“Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see-how good GOD is. Blessed are you who run to him.” Psalm 34:8 (The Message)

Whole

“I can’t believe I ate the whole thing!” That was a slogan for Alka Seltzer back in the 70’s and a catchy one at that. I remember people would be heard saying those words at restaurants, around dinner tables, and at the ice cream parlor. I’ve even said them once or twice myself as this picture proves! (The hair? Don’t ask!) Whether finishing an entire bag of potato chips in one sitting, munching through a four-serving bag of microwave popcorn by myself, eating way too much on my first trip to Pigeon Forge, TN (the picture again), or you add your own to the list,“the whole thing” can leave us feeling full – of food or whatever else we’ve partaken of- AND fuller of regret.

There’s one thing though we can never fill up too much on, and that’s God. The Psalmist puts it like this:

“God – you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains.” Psalm 63:1-3 (The Message)

I don’t know about you, but I often let myself desire chocolate chip cookies and a Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee more than I hunger and thirst for God. That is of course, until life has me stumbling through a dry and weary place, it’s then I finally realize I’m actually starving for Him.

“Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to GOD. He got you out in the nick of time; He put your feet on a wonderful road that took you straight to a good place to live. So thank GOD for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves. He poured great drafts of water down parched throats; the starved and hungry got plenty to eat.”
Psalm 107:6-9 (The Message)

When trying to fill up on our own, we can easily find ourselves in disbelief because we’ve messed up the whole thing, gotten the whole thing wrong, spent the whole thing, lost the whole thing, been consumed by, or consumed the whole thing. Thankfully Jesus, while in his own desert place, reminds us of what we truly need to really live.

“Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: ‘It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.’” Matthew 4:4 (The Message)

It’s not in a fizzy liquid where we’ll find our relief, but in tasting the life-giving, life-nourishing Word of God, not just a bit, but the whole thing!  I’m believe that once we take it in, we won’t be able to get enough!

“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.” Matthew 5:6 (The Message)