Writing to the church at Corinth, Paul remarked that, “Jews ask for signs and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumbling block, and unto Gentiles foolishness…” (1 Cor. 1:22f.). The point that he is attempting to make in his comments about these two groups of prospects for the gospel, is that neither one of them (in general) was much interested in the message of the gospel of Christ.

They were interested in other things. They has other priorities. Their concerns were centered elsewhere. So, the gospel of Jesus Christ did not have much allure for them. This is a very sad commentary on their situation, since it was only the gospel that had the power to save their souls (Rom. 1:16).

When we consider the force of this text, it is very disconcerting for some of us; and this is so on account of our own predisposition to have certain things that motivate us and interest us. We want things to our liking. For example, some of us very much like chocolate ice cream, whereas others of us favor vanilla. Then there are those odd people who like neither one, preferring cherry or strawberry. Frankly, I like them all, but some better than others. Sometimes I may serve my guests Butter Pecan, and at other times they may get Mint Chocolate Chip. But at my house it is my choice, so you will have to be happy with the flavor I serve you. Of course, I am just being a bit silly in offering these as an example of such important spiritual realities.

But in truth the point is that some of us deal with God’s choice of the gospel as his medium for drawing men to himself in much the same way that they treat their own choice of their favorite ice cream. How do I mean that? Well, in this sense: they believe that God ought to provide them with “31 flavors” so that they will find somewhere in that mix of messages one that is to their liking.

Jesus dealt with this sort of thing as he taught folks during the time of his personal ministry. People had their own hopes and dreams about what the kingdom of heaven should be like, and they tended to superimpose those views upon what he taught before he ever spoke a word to them. If the Lord’s teachings did not meet those criteria, then as far as they were concerned, Jesus was simply out of luck. On one occasion a crowd of such people surrounded him, and the Lord said, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of Jonah…” (Matt. 16:4).

Jesus was unwilling to meet these people on their own terms. They had to meet him on God’s terms, or else there would be no meeting of these minds! At the same time, the Lord spoke to them of the one great sign that would be given, and it was one that was more marvelous than could be imagined. But they had no appreciation of that miracle as amazing as it truly was, since for most of them his unwillingness to meet them on their own terms was more than they could take. They wanted a sign there and then, and Jesus was not willing to play the showman simply to give them what they wanted.

When you read the Bible today, assuming that you will spend some time with it (and all of us need to do this!), remember that God is reaching out to you in the words of this grand book. But at the same time you need to know this for certain: He is there to meet with you on his terms, not on yours. You cannot read his Word in order to find confirmation for what you already believe, or else to discover justification for what you are already doing or practicing. Too many of us read the Scriptures that way, and it is a road that leads on to disaster. It is not a book of “31 flavors”! You are a guest at his house when you read his book. You must learn to like the flavor that is set before you.