Just Taste

“I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8) (Amp.)

“Try it, you’ll like it,” was a slogan of one of the soft drinks years ago. Another soft drink slogan was, “It’s the real thing.” Both of these slogans could be used for Jesus. Psalm 34:8 says, “O, taste and see that the Lord is good.” Just one good “taste” of Jesus will hook us forever. We will forever want more. He is the only thing or only One who will satisfy our craving. I’m sure you have heard the old saying, “there is a God-shaped vacuum in everyone and it cannot be filled with anything or anyone but God.” We have a promise of satisfaction for that longing in the fourth Beatitude (Matthew 5:6) that says, “Blessed and fortunate and happy and prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be completely satisfied” (Amp.).

Also, Isaiah 55:1&2 gives these joyful promises, “Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters, and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy (priceless spiritual) wine and milk without money and without price (simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing). Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness, (the profuseness of spiritual joy).

God is reasoning with us saying, “Come to the only fresh, proficient Resource to meet your spiritual thirst – Me, the God of the universe. Come to Me to buy priceless, spiritual, “wine” (this Hebrew word means, “the best banqueting wine” and is symbolizing the Holy Spirit, Eph.5:18). Buy milk (the rich cream), symbolizing the riches of His grace and kindness (Rom.2:4) – “buy” (obtain) all of this without money or price but simply for surrendering yourself to God and just accepting His blessings.” It doesn’t cost anything to come into a relationship with the living God, not good works, not trying to be a good person but just surrender to Him and acceptance of Him as your God and Savior. Then is when real life begins and you can begin to “know” Jehovah God!

God says, “Why do you need to spend your money for that which is not vital to your life and will not satisfy? Listen closely to Me, take in and disseminate only that which is good for you, and let your mind, will and emotions delight in its profuse spiritual joy.”

It’s ironic that we are satisfied in Him yet we want to know more of Him. He is God and we can have a personal relationship with Him but the longer we walk with Him the more we learn about Him, to know Him is to love Him and to want to know Him more. We get His "fix: and our hunger to know Him more fully is satisfied when we experience Him daily as He reveals the truth of His Word, as He shows Himself mighty on our behalf, as He communes with us and we see Him fulfill His promises to us. We won’t fully know Him until we see Him face to face (I Cor.13:12). They say the longer we live with someone the more we get to look and act like them. This must be what Paul was saying in
II Cor. 3:18, “All of us, as with unveiled face (because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another.)”

Paul’s feelings of his innermost being concerning his relationship to Jesus, his Savior were deep and pure. This is from the Amplified Bible in Philippians 3:8-10.

“Yes, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him (of perceiving, recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly). For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One).”

“And that I may (actually) be found and known as in Him, not having any (self-achieved) righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that (genuine righteousness) which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the (truly) right standing with God, which comes from God by (saving) faith.”

“For my determined purpose is that I may know Him (that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly, and that I may in the same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection (which it exerts over believers), and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed (in spirit into His likeness).”

Why wouldn’t Paul, or anyone count their accomplishments, their wealth, their fame – their everything as rubbish in comparison to the excellency of “knowing” Christ Jesus, the Savior! Just taste and see that the Lord is good. Try Him – you’ll like Him, He is the real thing! You may get off into a wrong path for a while but the “Hound of Heaven” – (the Holy Spirit) will hunt you down and bring you back. Once you have a Jesus’ “Fix,” you are hooked and can never be satisfied with anyone or anything else. Satisfied Clara Tear Williams All my life long I have panted for a drink from some clear spring that I hoped would quench the burning of the thirst I felt within. Hallelujah! I have found Him Whom my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies my longings – through His blood I now am saved.