Talk Theme: “Have You Really Tasted God’s Word?”

[Hubi]

My dear brothers and sisters...

today I would like to speak with you about something that many people are not even aware of...

Many quickly say:
“No... I do not believe in God.”
“No... the Bible does not interest me.”
“No... that is not for me.”

But the sad question is:

How many reject something... that they have never truly examined?

How many judge God’s Word...
without ever looking into it?
without reading it?
without ever giving Jehovah the chance to speak to their heart?

And that is exactly what a very beautiful experience reminds me of...

---

The Story of the Orchard

A Christian was once traveling in Northern Italy.

During his journey, he came across a beautiful orchard.

The trees were full of wonderful, ripe fruit.
Everything was cared for.
Everything was lovingly maintained.

The owner of the orchard was nearby, and so a conversation developed.

The Christian spoke with him about the inner needs of man...
about hope...
about peace...
about God.

Then he offered the man a Bible.

But the owner asked skeptically:

“You say this book is God’s Word... but how can you prove that?”

And now listen carefully...

The Christian did not answer immediately.

Instead, he looked at the beautiful pears on the trees
and said:

“These pears look beautiful... but it is a shame that they are of poor quality.”

The owner was immediately offended.

He said:

“How can you say that?! You have not even tasted them!”

And then he said something very true:

“Take one and see for yourself!”

The Christian took a pear, bit into it...
and said:

“You are right... it is excellent.”

And then he looked kindly at the man and said:

“But you see... you are treating my book the same way.
You are judging it without ever tasting it.
Read it... and you will discover for yourself that the Bible is God’s good Word.”

---

Is that not a beautiful illustration?

How many people judge the Bible...
without ever really reading it?

How many reject Jehovah...
without ever truly getting to know him?

---

Jehovah Invites Us to Taste

Please turn to:

Psalm 34:8

“Taste and see that Jehovah is good; happy is the man who takes refuge in him.”

What a loving verse...

Jehovah does not simply say:

“Believe blindly.”

No.

He says:

“Taste.”

“Try it for yourself.”

“Get to know me.”

“See for yourself how good I am.”

Jehovah forces no one.

He invites.

Like a loving father who says:

“Please... just give me a chance.
Get to know me.
Then you will see how much I love you.”

---

The Problem With Many People Today

But what do many do?

They say:

“The Bible is outdated.”
“Religion does not interest me.”
“There is no God.”

But if you ask:

“Have you even read the Bible?”

Then often there is silence.

How sad...

People reject the greatest gift...
without ever opening it.

They turn away the most loving Father...
without ever getting to know him.

---

And That Hurts Jehovah

Brothers and sisters...

let us think about this:

How must Jehovah feel?

He created us.

He gave us life.

He gave us beauty.

He gave his Son.

He had his Word written down...

a love letter to mankind...

and so many throw it aside,
without even reading it.

---

Let us read:

Isaiah 48:17, 18

“I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit yourself...
If only you would pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river.”

Can you feel Jehovah’s heart in that?

“If only you would listen...”

“If only you would understand...”

“If only you would realize that everything I say is out of love...”

This is not a harsh God.

This is not a cold ruler.

This is a Father with a broken heart...

watching his children reject him,
even though he wants only what is best for them.

---

A Moving Illustration

Imagine...

a father writes letters full of love to his child every day.

In those letters he writes:

“I love you.”
“I want to help you.”
“Please do not go down that road, it will hurt you.”
“Here is the path to happiness.”

But the child...

throws every letter away unopened.

Never read.
Never opened.
Never cared about.

How would that father feel?

Would it not tear his heart apart?

---

And that is exactly what many people do to Jehovah.

The Bible may lie right next to them...
collecting dust on the shelf...

and they never open it.

Never do they listen.
Never do they read his thoughts.
Never do they allow Jehovah to speak to their heart.

---

Why We Must Follow God’s Word

Brothers and sisters...

the Bible was not written
to restrict us.

It was written
to save us.

2 Timothy 3:16, 17

“All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial...”

Beneficial for what?

So that we may be happy.
So that we may be protected.
So that we may find the right way.

Jehovah does not give us commands to take something away from us.

He gives them to spare us pain.

---

Why Is It So Hard for People?

And yet we sometimes sadly ask:

Why do people not understand this?

Why do they not listen?

Why do they reject Jehovah?

The answer is simple:

Because many would rather follow their own heart
than God’s wisdom.

Because pride often speaks louder than humility.

Because Satan has blinded this world.

2 Corinthians 4:4

“The god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers.”

Many do not see clearly.

They do not recognize Jehovah’s love.

---

But We Can Be Different

My dear brothers and sisters...

let us never become superficial with God’s Word.

Let us not read the Bible only...
because we have to.

But because we love Jehovah.

Because we want to hear his thoughts.

Because we miss his voice when we do not hear it.

---

Conclusion – One Final Illustration

The Bible is like a table set with delicious food.

Jehovah has prepared everything.

Lovingly.
With effort.
With heart.

And he says:

“Please... sit down.
Eat.
Strengthen yourself.
Enjoy it.”

But many simply walk by.

Without tasting.
Without trying.
Without realizing what they are missing.

---

Therefore, my dear ones...

let us never be like that.

Let us be people who truly taste.

Who love Jehovah’s Word.

Who read it.

Who live by it.

And who help others to realize:

Try it first... before you judge.

Because the one who truly tastes Jehovah’s Word...
who truly reads it with an open heart...
who truly gets to know Jehovah...

will realize:

There is nothing sweeter.
Nothing truer.
Nothing more loving.

Because yes...

the Bible is not just a book.

It is the good Word of God.