What’s your pleasure?

Fast food?  Or, the more excellent stuff? 

A food connoisseur would never hope to develop his ability and knowledge to ‘discern the best’ by going through the ‘drive-up window.’   Likewise, anyone who fancies themselves knowledgeable and able to ‘discern’ spiritual matters should not partake of the Bread of Life at the fast food joint.  

We know from scripture that He who will judge who is a ‘connoisseur’ and who is not will go by a prescribed standard—one that was instituted (ordained) by the Judge, Himself!

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Romans 2:16

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

That would be “Paul’s gospel!”

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

But, you say, I follow Jesus and I get lots of ‘good food’ on Sunday out of the four gospels!  Well, if we say we follow ‘Jesus’ then shouldn’t we follow His last set of instructions to us (much like following the most recent doctor’s orders as opposed to his first set of orders)?  Yes, Jesus in His earthly ministry to ‘the lost sheep of Israel’ sent the 12 out with the so-called ‘great’ commission to preach the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.  But many today fail to see His most recent—thus greater—commission given to Paul to take to the gentiles ‘a part from’ Israel.  (Salvation to gentiles had always been part of God’s plan and purpose, but it was to come through Israel, not a part from Israel.)

Therefore, God, the Holy Spirit, had Paul pen these words…

1 Corinthians 14:37

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I [Paul] write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Many would accuse Paul of egotism, but if you believe the words on the page (which is what defines ‘scripture’), that is not what Paul says about himself.  Again, the Holy Spirit had him pen that it was his capacity in the greater commission of the gospel of the grace of God that was the focus…

Romans 11:13

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

Therefore, let us develop our knowledge and ability to ‘discern’ that which is good from that which is excellent by holding the words given to Paul by the risen, ascended Lord Jesus Christ to give to us…

2 Timothy 1:13

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

…with a promise from God…

Philippians 4:9

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

…and, taking no shortcuts through the ‘drive-up window.’

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Like the connoisseur that would never make fast food his ‘meal of choice.’  Neither should we who seek to be approved of God choose fast food.

Grace to you,

;j an