Daily Devotional

When I think of this verse, I think of chocolate covered pretzels. Trust me, it makes sense…

I love chocolate covered pretzels. I don’t really know why (other than the fact that they are simply amazing) but they are one of my favorite things. I admit that on the surface, chocolate covered pretzels seem pretty foolish.

I like to imagine what it must have been like for the first person to make this confectionary delight. Maybe he had some melted chocolate and it spilled on some pretzels. Maybe he ripped open a bag of pretzels over a bowl of melted chocolate and some happened to fall in. History may have forgotten the individual and the circumstance, but we will never forget the outcome.

Whatever circumstances led to this seemingly mismatched product, I respect the individual who was not daunted by the odd pairing and instead decided to try the first chocolate covered pretzel. Picture the first hesitant bite. A few moments to chew. Then a smile that stretched ear to ear as for a moment all his cares and concerns evaporated as pure happiness and joy in edible form was experienced.

Of course, this individual must have then ran door to door telling his neighbors of this amazing discovery. Now imagine the shock and wonderment of his neighbors. Chocolate covered…pretzels? Chocolate is sweet, pretzels are savory, what business do they have going together? I imagine his reply, said with a smile was, “Taste and see!”

When it comes to a dessert item, this pairing seems downright foolish, but let me tell you, it works. In a much grander (and much more important) sense, the same is true of the message of the cross. In the first century, the cross only meant suffering. It wasn’t a subject you would even bring up in polite company. The cross seems like a foolish way to bring about salvation, but let me tell you, it works.

For those of us who have tasted of this Good News we know that it is not foolishness at all. Some may look at us incredulously when we tell them about Jesus, but we can (and should!) tell them firsthand that we know how truly good this news is. We can't make them listen, we can't make them believe, but we can invite them to "taste and see." You may not like chocolate covered pretzels (I can't imagine why), but no one who tastes of the goodness of the Lord will leave not wanting more.

Yes, the message of the cross may seem like foolishness but that foolish thing, that weak thing, when used by God Almighty is stronger and wiser than anything man could ever come up with.

"O taste and see that the Lord is good."

"English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers."