It’s a rare person that doesn’t love to eat. As a kid I remember Mom ringing her big cow bell with its deep bonks to call us in from playing in the fields and woods around our home out in the country. We hated to hear it. It meant we had to stop what we were doing and run home for dinner.

But somewhere between sixth grade and college, I got turned on to food. Once the switch was thrown, the problem no longer was forcing myself to come to the dinner table but forcing myself to push away from it.

Today, for example, a group of girlfriends surprised me with a birthday luncheon that was completely unexpected. We feasted at a waterfront restaurant, after which they surprised me a second time with a gorgeous bakery-made cake and a song, “You light up my life.” The cake had my name written on it in lavender and had four layers with lemon in between each luscious one. The frosting was melt-in-your-mouth yummy, including the pastel flowers, as smooth as silk.

Despite having high cholesterol that refuses to go away, I enjoyed a great-big piece.

I love food. And I’m sure God is happy about that. He went to the trouble of making a wide variety of flavors and consistencies, all delicious and most visually attractive.

For those who like salty, he made sea salt. For those who like sweet, he made sugar cane. He created something for everyone, and most likely he smiles as we “mmmm” over tasting something good. The key is to use food as fuel for our bodies and in that process, to enjoy eating it.

The Bible frequently references food, but the most interesting mention has to do with tasting of the Lord himself! Psalm 34 invites us to taste and see that he’s good. It’s as if the smallest sample of him is all we need to be convinced that following him is a good thing.

God refers to himself as “the Word” in Scripture, and of further food interest is the many references he makes to eating his words. Hebrews compares scripture to both milk and meat, the first being Christian basics, and the second being a deeper wisdom.

Erwin Lutzer put it well when he said, “What food is to the body, the Bible is to the soul.”

From this we can conclude that reading and studying the Bible provides needed life-fuel. It offers milk to the thirsty person during a dry, wilderness experience and meat to the one needing fresh vigor and strength. The promises of the Bible are scrumptious, and its doctrine brings satisfaction as we “eat it up.”

Because I have a sweet tooth, I can’t think of anything tastier than the birthday cake and frosting I ate today. But because I’ve also grown to love God’s Word, I can also smack my lips over Psalm 119:103: “How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.”

And that sweet treat doesn’t even require a trip to the bakery!

”Your words were found and I ate them, and your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by your name, O Lord God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16)