Our girls shopping trip included breakfast at a well-reviewed Alabama restaurant, “Big Bad Breakfast.” The order included a grapefruit that had been sprinkled with sugared and then torched…just like a crème brulee. As a culinarian, the combo sounded intriguing but I wasn’t completely confident that I would like it. The results were amazing! They were absolutely delicious and I wished that we had ordered multiple ones.
I was surprised at how wonderfully sweet the fruit was and how amazing the crunch of melted sugar tasted on my tongue. As I reflected on the taste, hours after leaving the restaurant, I realized that my reaction reminded me of Proverbs 27:7 “One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.”
The supposedly tart-and possibly bitter- grapefruit was sweet like honey.
While the verse does not mean that bitter food will become sweet to us, it does have a deeper meaning about those who are hungry. Within the Proverbs verse, the honey signifies your walk with God, your relationship with the Trinity, and possibly even the value you place on studying God’s Word.
Specifically, the verse is also referencing those who are hungry to have a deeper relationship with the Lord. If one feels as though they are “full” or perhaps they think there isn’t room to grow within their spiritual walk, they aren’t desperate to seek God. The end result is that they begin to loathe the honey…essentially they pull away from God, from biblical teaching, and fellowship with other believers.
The second half of the verse speaks to the believer who is desperate to know God more deeply. They are hungry. As a result of that hunger, they taste the sweetness of walking closer to God through study, prayer, and fellowship.
What do you do about that hunger you may be feeling?
– Spend time with God in prayer: write down your prayer requests and answers to prayer
– Study the Bible…seriously study…not just read.
– Fellowship with other believers: at church, in a small group, one-on-one
Only when we initiate knowing God more fully, will we actually get to know God more fully.
Just like the bruleed grapefruit that appears to have a bitter taste but really is super sweet, our walk with the Lord should be filled with hunger to know Him on a more intimate level. Only then can we taste the sweetness through any bitterness.
I praying for everyone on the Iron Porch to have a sweet week with God.
~Emily
Bruleed Grapefruit
2 red or pink grapefruits
2 Tbl Sugar (coarse, brown or raw)
*Optional ¾ tsp coarse sea salt, sprinkled nutmeg, sprinkled cinnamon)
- Halve each grapefruit crosswise, and cut a thin slice off the bottom of each half to stabilize the pieces. Remove all seeds from the grapefruit, and loosen the segments with a paring knife. Remove any excess liquid with a paper towel patted on the top of fruit.
- Sprinkle each half evenly with the sugar (and optional items). Using a torch, melt the sugar to form a golden brown and crispy surface. You can use the broiler in your oven, but pay careful attention to not burn the sugar.
Iron Porch 