What Does It Mean to 'Enjoy' God?
A number of days ago, we discussed 'How To Discover Your Purpose In 15 Minutes Or Less'. Do you remember? If you missed that topic, you may click on the title and read it before proceeding with the current discussion. Because they are tied together.
In that conversation, we stated that the primary purpose of human beings, as others have stated, is 'to enjoy God and to glorify him'. But the question is, 'What does it mean to 'enjoy God? I will attempt to share with you in this segment what I understand that to mean. But I am also open to receiving your perspective on the issue.
There are about four things we are instructed in the bible to 'taste'. And if you recall, to 'taste', among other things, is an archaic word for 'to enjoy' to appreciate' (Dictionary.com). So, let's take a look at these four commands in scripture to taste or to enjoy. We are enjoined to taste:
The Lord ( Psalm 34: 8; 1 Peter 2: 3)
The Word of God ( Psalm 119: 103; Hebrews 6: 5)
The Powers to come ( Hebrews 6: 5)
The Heavenly gift ( Hebrews 6: 4)
Of the four, we shall focus on tasting the Lord today. In subsequent posts, we shall examine the other three on after the other.
Let's begin by looking at both verses.
'Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him' - Psalm 34: 8
'if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious' - 1 Peter 2: 3
Both scriptures seem to suggest that it is possible to 'taste' or enjoy the Lord. The word 'taste', we are told is from the Greek word, 'geuomai', which means to 'have experience of'. It is variously translated to 'eat' or to 'taste' all through scriptures.
OK, enough of the Greek talk; what does it mean to have a taste of the Lord here and now, each and every day? It means to experience the Lord on a regular basis. That is the supreme call of man, and the chief goal of Christianity. It is possible, nay, indispensable to true faith, for us to have an experience of the person and character of God.
Jesus said so Himself in very clear terms. "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent"- John 17:3. Eternal life is 'knowing' the Godhead. Again, the word translated to 'know' in that verse simply means to experience, to encounter in an intimate, personal way. This is how the Amplified bible puts it: "And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent." Can it be any clearer?
Let's recap a bit. The chief goal of human beings is to enjoy God and to glorify him. To enjoy God means to taste the Lord, to encounter the wonder of his person, not once in a life-time, but on an on-going level. To experience him, and prove for ourselves that he is good and gracious. To come to understand God and his unique ways. To be able to experience something of his divine nature and joy as we interact with him closely. To walk with HIM until we begin to grasp a little of the intricate wonders of his person.
No wonder, the Bible used the word, taste. Yes, we can only have a taste of him on this side of eternity. But someday, at the end of the age, and at entrance of his full reign, we shall know and enjoy him in full.
I am going to end this discussion here( it's getting too Long, right?). But may I invite you to express your desire to taste more of Him and his goodness as Paul did?
"[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[b]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death..." - Philippians 3: 10- 11; Amplified.
What joy, what blessing , what grace we would know if only that we may 'progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person more strongly and more clearly". That is life at it's best; the chief goal of us all, and the source of unspeakable joy.
A final note. Yes, you are free to send these posts to friends, or subscribe to the post so that individual posts are sent directly to your inbox as soon as they are available.
A number of days ago, we discussed 'How To Discover Your Purpose In 15 Minutes Or Less'. Do you remember? If you missed that topic, you may click on the title and read it before proceeding with the current discussion. Because they are tied together.
In that conversation, we stated that the primary purpose of human beings, as others have stated, is 'to enjoy God and to glorify him'. But the question is, 'What does it mean to 'enjoy God? I will attempt to share with you in this segment what I understand that to mean. But I am also open to receiving your perspective on the issue.
There are about four things we are instructed in the bible to 'taste'. And if you recall, to 'taste', among other things, is an archaic word for 'to enjoy' to appreciate' (Dictionary.com). So, let's take a look at these four commands in scripture to taste or to enjoy. We are enjoined to taste:
The Lord ( Psalm 34: 8; 1 Peter 2: 3)
The Word of God ( Psalm 119: 103; Hebrews 6: 5)
The Powers to come ( Hebrews 6: 5)
The Heavenly gift ( Hebrews 6: 4)
Of the four, we shall focus on tasting the Lord today. In subsequent posts, we shall examine the other three on after the other.
Let's begin by looking at both verses.
'Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him' - Psalm 34: 8
'if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious' - 1 Peter 2: 3
Both scriptures seem to suggest that it is possible to 'taste' or enjoy the Lord. The word 'taste', we are told is from the Greek word, 'geuomai', which means to 'have experience of'. It is variously translated to 'eat' or to 'taste' all through scriptures.
OK, enough of the Greek talk; what does it mean to have a taste of the Lord here and now, each and every day? It means to experience the Lord on a regular basis. That is the supreme call of man, and the chief goal of Christianity. It is possible, nay, indispensable to true faith, for us to have an experience of the person and character of God.
Jesus said so Himself in very clear terms. "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent"- John 17:3. Eternal life is 'knowing' the Godhead. Again, the word translated to 'know' in that verse simply means to experience, to encounter in an intimate, personal way. This is how the Amplified bible puts it: "And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent." Can it be any clearer?
Let's recap a bit. The chief goal of human beings is to enjoy God and to glorify him. To enjoy God means to taste the Lord, to encounter the wonder of his person, not once in a life-time, but on an on-going level. To experience him, and prove for ourselves that he is good and gracious. To come to understand God and his unique ways. To be able to experience something of his divine nature and joy as we interact with him closely. To walk with HIM until we begin to grasp a little of the intricate wonders of his person.
No wonder, the Bible used the word, taste. Yes, we can only have a taste of him on this side of eternity. But someday, at the end of the age, and at entrance of his full reign, we shall know and enjoy him in full.
I am going to end this discussion here( it's getting too Long, right?). But may I invite you to express your desire to taste more of Him and his goodness as Paul did?
"[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[b]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death..." - Philippians 3: 10- 11; Amplified.
What joy, what blessing , what grace we would know if only that we may 'progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person more strongly and more clearly". That is life at it's best; the chief goal of us all, and the source of unspeakable joy.
A final note. Yes, you are free to send these posts to friends, or subscribe to the post so that individual posts are sent directly to your inbox as soon as they are available.
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