Sour Patch Kids
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
“Even the bitterest things will become sweet in God’s hands.” – Os Hillman
One of my grandchildren’s favorite candies is Sour Patch Kids. They are packed in a colorful box and the “kids” come in red, blue, yellow, orange, and green. One bite is all it takes to figure out where they got the name.
At first taste, the candy is as sour as a lemon slice. In fact, your face will most likely “pucker up” as you deal with the tartness. However, no sooner have you gotten used to the sour taste, but your mouth is filled with sweetness. The initial pucker is due to an outer layer of citric acid, tartaric acid, and sugar, whereas the inner sweet layer is coated with invert sugar.
As their slogan says, “Sour Then Sweet.” Another advertising line the manufacturer uses is “Sour. Sweet. Gone.”
In some ways, God’s Word is like Sour Patch Kids. Initially, it tastes bitter because it points out our sin. However, after we confess that sin and trust Jesus as our Savior, the Bible turns into a sweet and savory treat.
Multiple Scripture passages make reference to the sweetness of God’s Holy Word. Here are just a few…
“The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold. Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:9-11 (NKJV)
“How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103 (NKJV)
“And He said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.’ So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.” Ezekiel 3:3 (NKJV)
“A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.” Proverbs 27:7 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
