Thursday 7 June 2012

SWEET JESUS


Is Jesus sweet to your soul? For some, Jesus is like a dusty old piece of flint from history. But take a closer look at this dusty rock. Put it to your mouth. You might be surprised.
Deut. 32:13 He made him ride on the high places of the land,
and he ate the produce of the field,
and he suckled him with honey out of the rock,
and oil out of the flinty rock.
In the Old Testament, Jesus is sometimes foreshadowed as a rock. A dry, dusty, almost dirty, rock. But a rock that tastes like honey. A rock, when handled, will moisturise dry skin.  A rock that delivers water to the parched and thirsty.

Just like the effort to acquire honey, sometimes the journey to discovering the sweetness of Christ requires a little effort. It takes effort to pick up a rock, counter-intuitively hold it to your mouth and begin to suck or drink from it.

You might know Jesus as your Saviour and have left it at that. But there is more to Jesus. He is far more than merely a ticket to heaven. He is sweet. He is refreshing. He is renewing. The closest apostle to Him during His passion, was John. John knew Jesus. But on the island of Patmos discovered fresh honey. He tasted a Jesus who satisfied his soul with the sweetest music as He spoke, satisfied his mind as He revealed, satisfied his vision with His majestic beauty, and comforted his heart as He decreed that He was Lord in the midst of the rampant onslaught against the Church.
Rev. 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
Have you tasted this honey? Is Jesus sweet to your soul? The would-be apostle Saul tasted this honey. He was an intellectual giant who found Christ to be richer and sweeter than his mind could digest. He found the only way to process this sweetness was to open his heart and drink deeply. Christ thoroughly satisfied his soul. Yet he knew there was more to taste of Christ. Even after twenty years as a seasoned apostle who experienced the Lord use him to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, it was not this that he considered the sweetness of Christ.
Phil. 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
In fact, the honey-tasting apostle considered miracles, healings, deliverances, as "rubbish" compared to knowing the honey of Christ. You can taste this honey today. Your vision of Christ can become majestically sweet and deeply satisfying for your soul. Don't just gloss over your time with Christ today as if He was a pet rock on your mantle-piece. Take time to dwell with the Christ Who is within you. Drink deeply from this honey-giving Rock. Savour His sweetness. Make prayer your honey-stick. Discover the Jesus who is your Saviour - but He is far more - He is the Sole Satisfaction of your soul.
Psa. 34:8 ¶ Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!
Ps. Andrew

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