Thursday, August 1, 2019

"Deceptions of Discontent" Part 2

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe… 


"Deceptions of Discontent"

Part 2

      
    How do we experience the contentment of heart for which God made and redeemed us?  The writer of Hebrews lays the foundation for our understanding and experience.

    "Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have, for He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).

    Our Lord's abiding Person and presence provide the fulfillment of our hearts.  He is our contentment, thus enabling us to "be content with such things as ye have," regardless of their quality and quantity.  This does not mean we will not feel desire for things, nor is it necessarily wrong to seek people, object, places, and experiences that bring us a sense of happiness.   Scripture does not teach the ascetic notion that we must forego all pleasure in order to love, worship, and serve the Lord.  "God… giveth us richly all things to enjoy" declared the Apostle Paul (I Timothy 6:17).  Indeed, when we gratefully receive the Lord's gifts with enjoyment, we worship as we affirm their source and origin in the Lord Jesus Christ.  "For all things are yours... and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's" (I Corinthians 3:21; 23).  Our Father's blessings do not fulfill out hearts with contentment, but properly received, they do direct us to Him as the Life of our lives.  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17).  Still, we do not perceive anything other than God Himself as the source and supply of true satisfaction.

    God made us for Himself.  Moreover, He made us to be be filled and fulfilled only by Himself.  We could lose all things, but if He remains, we have lost nothing regarding true contentment.  This is hard truth for the flesh of even devoted believers, still so tempted to seek life in that which cannot provide it.  "The flesh lusteth against the spirit" (Galatians 5:17).  It is joyous truth, however, to our spirits united with the Spirit of Christ who indwells us as the Life of our lives.  This we must believe because it us true, and because the glory of God and the peace of our hearts awaits our devotion to the great truth affirmed by prophet and the apostle….

"He is thy life." 
(Deuteronomy 30:20). 
"To live is Christ."
(Philippians 1:21)

Weekly Memory Verse


    God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father.
(Galatians 4:6)



  






















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