Finding Satisfaction

Philippians 4:11-13

God has provided us with many things to enjoy. But too often our lives are filled with turmoil instead of contentment. Four practices that create dissatisfaction are . . .

Busyness. We live in a hurry-up society, dashing from one activity to another. Jesus did not rush anywhere, yet He accomplished whatever God gave Him to do. Not once did He tell His followers to move faster. He even praised Mary for choosing to stop her work and spend time with Him (Luke 10:39, 42).

Earthly perspective. Too often we live focused on our circumstances. Our minds think about what happened earlier in the week, what’s on today’s agenda, and the activities occurring next week, month, or year. No wonder enjoyment of life remains elusive. The solution is to have an eternal perspective, which acknowledges that God is in charge and our goal is to please Him.

Self-imposed pressure. We have all experienced the unavoidable burdens of schoolwork, employment, and relationships. But we bring needless pressure on ourselves when we allow unnecessary “musts” and “shoulds” to rule us. The remedy is to turn to God, acknowledge His right to order our days, and ask for His plan.

Unhealthy attitudes. Perfectionism, false guilt, and apathy all undermine our enjoyment of life.

Satisfaction is found in a life that reflects God’s priorities—and time with Him comes first. Reading His Word, we become mindful of the Father’s great love, learn what He views as important, and experience the joy of belonging to Him. When contentment is elusive, it’s time to examine our priorities.

Wait Upon the Lord

Psalm 40:1

Practicing patience is hard work! This is especially true when we are waiting upon the Lord, who keeps to His own timetable. But believers who trust God to deliver are richly rewarded with the desires of their heart.

A person's willingness to wait reveals the value of what he or she desires. Imagine, for example, a young man who yearns for a wife. He must decide whether to place greater importance upon a) getting married or b) waiting patiently for a mate chosen by God. If his priority is the former, he may accept an offer that is less than the Lord's best for him. The lady in question might be a good Christian but not the woman suited for this particular young man.

No one goes wrong waiting for the Lord to send His best in His perfect timing. Of course, believers don't receive everything they request. At times God simply says no. In other cases, He adjusts our desire to match His own. In our humanness, we can't possibly know all the details of a situation. So we ask for what we think we need, based on our limited information. A submissive heart accepts the omnipotent Father's gentle redirection. When the awaited object of desire comes, it may not look like what the believer originally requested, but it will be exactly what he or she needs.

Waiting patiently on the Lord is an awesome witness. When He responds, others see the reality of God, His faithfulness, and the wisdom of our commitment. In addition, our own faith is strengthened. Fools rush to seize their prize. But wise believers know that blessing will come in God's good time.

Failing to Listen to God

Genesis 3:1-6

Listening to God is not a onetime event. We must continually keep His Word before us, or we'll begin to listen to the wrong voices.

In Genesis 2:16-17, the Lord gave a command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But Eve began to listen to another voice and did not hold firmly to her Creator's words. All that Satan had to do was plant a single doubt about God's integrity and offer Eve one appealing advantage of doing things her own way—and she fell for it. He mentioned wisdom, but using her own reasoning, Eve added two more benefits to the temptation: the fruit is good for food and a delight to the eyes.

The schemes of the Enemy have not changed. He still whispers lies and twists truth to convince us that a) God cannot be trusted and b) His ways are not the best. In every temptation, there is a deception about the character and motive of God, plus an attractive promise of a better way.

The world is filled with voices that vie for our attention and influence our thoughts and actions. Throughout the day, consider the messages that are sent your way through the media and people. Consciously begin to compare them to what Scripture says about God and His ways.

Remembering what God says in the Bible is our safeguard against deception and temptation. Daily devotions won't protect us if they're quickly forgotten during the day. Follow Christ's example: be ready with truth in your mind and on your tongue whenever temptation strikes (Matt. 4:1-11).

Left as Witnesses

Acts 1:6-8

One of the biggest problems in the church today is that many Christians don’t see themselves as servants of the Lord. However, it’s not His will that we just come to church and listen to sermons. He wants us to go out and be Christ’s witnesses wherever we are or wherever He sends us.

The roles and methods by which we carry out our witness will be different, but each believer has a vital role to play. Individually, you may feel as if your efforts have little impact, but the Lord can work wonders through a willing servant. No one is too messed up to be used by Him: He specializes in taking broken people and making them whole. Nor does anyone reach an age when he or she is no longer useful—if you’re still alive, God isn’t done with you yet.

The question is not whether we are adequate to be His witnesses, but whether we are willing. God has promised the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish His purposes through us, but if we won’t use His divine strength, we waste opportunities for impact. Earthly responsibilities have a way of stealing our attention and limiting our obedience to the Lord. However, nothing in life is more important than doing the will of the Father.

Have duties and pleasures of this world lured you away from your responsibility to tell others about the Savior? Salvation is not just an experience to be enjoyed; it’s a gift to be shared. You don’t need a theology degree. Just tell what Jesus has done for you, and the Spirit will do the rest.

Lessons in Sonship

John 8:25-59

Jesus’ assertion that He was the Son of God incited fury in the religious leaders. Yet His explanation of all that His Sonship entailed helps us understand how we are to behave as God’s children.

He spoke His Father’s words to the world (v. 26). Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave us the same assignment. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15).

Christ did nothing on His own initiative (John 8:28). Sonship never implies weakness, but it does require surrender to the Father’s authority.

He spoke as the Father taught Him(v. 28). Christians aren’t to depend on personal instinct but, rather, are to learn and rely on the truth of God’s Word.

Jesus always did what pleased the Father (v. 29). God’s children no longer live for their own pleasures; rather, they seek the joy and blessings of living in obedience to their Father.

Christ did not pursue His own glory but honored the Father (vv. 49-50, 54). In the same way, we’re to humble ourselves and exalt the Lord in our thoughts and behavior.

He knew His Father and kept His word (v. 55). Believers have the same privilege of intimacy with God and the same responsibility of obedience to His instructions.

The opportunity for us to be God’s childrenis possible only because of the faithful obedience of His Son. Christ opened the door for our adoption, showered us with family blessings, and demonstrated how we are to live in the household of faith. Now it is up to us to follow His example.

How to Listen to God’s Word

Nehemiah 8

How is it that two people can sit in the same pew, hear the same sermon about the same portion of Scripture, and walk away with two different reactions? One is joyful and the other unaffected. I think the reason is that some people do not know how to listen to the Word of God.

Nehemiah 8 is an amazing scene of God’s people coming together to hear His Word. Remember that they didn’t have individual copies of Scripture to read. For generations, the events of Genesis though Deuteronomy were passed down from parent to child. Moreover, the people had been in captivity for many years. This was the first time most of them heard the Word read. Imagine their excitement as they listened attentively for the Lord to speak to them.

The Israelites were hungry for God’s Word. Are you? Do you listen eagerly and with an expectant mind and heart? The length of a person’s attention span is directly related to the intensity of his hunger for something. If you crave to know more of God, then your mind is going to be fastened on what He’s saying through your pastor or your personal reading. And the reality is that nothing in the world mattersas much as what the Lord has to say.

So many things clamor for our focus but few truly deserve it. The Lord is worthy of nothing less than our undivided attention. He has something to say to every person. So whoever listens to God’s Word with an open heart and alert mind will receive from Him.

How to Seek the Lord

Psalm 105:1-8

Although Scripture tells us to seek the Lord, many Christians struggle with this command. Some are so distracted by other interests and responsibilities that God is only a miniscule part of their goals and desires in life. When confronted with their responsibility to pursue Him, they often feel guilty but don’t know how to begin.

When desire for God surpasses our eagerness for other pursuits, following through becomes much more likely. But hunger for the Lord is an acquired taste. The more we pursue Him, the greater our hunger will be. However, if we ignore Him, what little appetite we have will diminish even further. Do you find that the latter describes your experience? Then ask the Lord to whet your appetite for Him—and follow through by making the effort to seek Him.

Begin with the Scriptures and prayer. Set aside time each day for meditating on God’s Word—listen for His voice, slowly digest what you read, talk to the Lord, ask Him questions, and apply what you learn to your life. Begin studying the Bible. Some of you may say, “I’ve never been into that.” My advice: Get into it! The deep things of God don’t just drop into our brains; they are placed there through diligent study.

Seeking anything requires time and effort. Will you invest your life in the pursuit of the Eternal One—the source of all contentment, joy, and hope? Or will you go after that which is fleeting? By neglecting the Lord, you cheat yourself of all the benefits He promises to those who diligently seek Him.

The Value of Seeking the Lord

Psalm 119:1-8

We all have ambitions and desires. And while these are not necessarily wrong, we should analyze our priorities: Where do I invest my time and energy? What or who occupies my thoughts? As important as our earthly pursuits, responsibilities, and relationships may be, they cannot compare to the value of a life spent seeking the Lord.

First of all, consider what it means to seeksomething. The word connotes a strong desire and an energetic quest to achieve it.Suppose you discovered a very productive vein of gold on your property. You wouldn’t just stroll out and look at it occasionally. No, you would gather some equipment and diligently go out each day to chip away at the rocks and collect the precious metal.

In the same way, seeking the Lord is not a quick and occasional encounter, but a wholehearted effort to know Him more intimately and follow Him more closely. Those who unreservedly pursue this kind of fellowship with God are determined to spend time with Him; they also want to forsake anything that could hinder growth in their relationship with the Lord. God’s committed followers boldly claim His promises and trust Him to fulfill His Word. Their experiences with the Lord bring amazing satisfaction yet cause them to hunger for more of Him.

The Christian life is meant to be a pursuit of God. To walk through the door of salvation and stand still, never drawing any closer to Him, is to miss the treasures that are available in Christ. Those who seek Him soon discover that knowing Him is the greatest reward of all.

Jesus Is Alive and Active

Hebrews 10:10-14

Have you ever wondered what Jesus is doing, now that He has ascended to heaven? Our Scripture passage tells us that after offering Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. Verse 13 might lead us to believe He is simply sitting up there waiting for the time when He comes back to rule and reign on earth. But when we consider other passages, we soon realize He is quite active on our behalf.

First of all, even though the Son is with the Father in heaven, He is also residing within every believer in the person of the Holy Spirit, whom He sent to be in us and with us (John 15:26; Rom. 8:9-10). Christ is actively working within you to shape your character and empower your obedience.

Next, Jesus lives to intercede for those who believe in Him (Heb. 7:25). He makes requests on our behalf and brings our prayers before the Father.

Then, we see in 1 John 2:1-2 that Jesus is our Advocate when we sin. Positioned between us and holy God, Christ declares our righteous standing because of His sacrifice and our faith in Him.

What’s more, Christ is preparing a place for us in heaven (John 14:1-3). He is also arranging all the events necessary for His return.

Jesus is busy in heaven carrying out the Father’s will. And we, as His followers, should be doing the same thing. He saved us for the purpose of reflecting His life in our work, attitudes, words, and behavior. We are His body—His eyes, ears, voice, feet, and hands—pointing others to Him.

Praising the Lamb of God

Revelation 5

John’s revelation of heaven’s throne room is a striking picture of true praise. The place explodes with worship and adoration for Jesus. Those present—the elders and “myriads of myriads” of angels (v. 11)—are motivated to sing their love of Christ because they know who He is. He is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (v. 6; John 1:29). And He is the Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5), the only one worthy to judge the earth and bring forth its renewal. Jesus is wonderful, and these men and created beings cannot resist saying so.

What motivates you to worship? Shouldn’t the reason for lifting hands and voices be to praise our Savior for who He is? To do that, we must take the time to know Him. Opening the Scriptures only on Sunday and praying sporadically are not enough. We have to commit ourselves to discovering Him through regular Bible study, selfless prayer, and service to His kingdom.

Once a believer has glimpsed a side of Christ’s character that is bigger and more amazing than he realized before, he yearns to know more. He hungers and thirsts for God in His life because only the Lord can satisfy (Matt. 5:6). It is in worship that the Christian’s heart is filled.

Praise is part of a cycle: learn more of God’s character, love Him more deeply, worship and serve Him better, and receive spiritual fulfillment. Amazingly, even as we are satisfied, we crave more of His presence in our life. And so we dig into His Word for more and begin the cycle again.

The Spirit's Work

Acts 2:38-39

There is an abundance of failure in the community of faith today. Sadly, it's all too common to find believers who aren't living as Scripture teaches—and they are missing out on the joy and peace that Jesus promised. The reason? When followers of Christ don't recognize the need to live in the Spirit, they attempt to push through each day in their own strength.

On Pentecost, God's Spirit came to indwell believers. He is a gift, blessing us in many ways. Let's consider some of the works He does. The Holy Spirit . . .

• Convicts our hearts of sin so that we can repent and be right with God (John 16:8).

• Regenerates us. We are new beings, alive in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

• Seals us forever as a child of the Almighty (Eph. 1:13). We don't ever have to fear the loss of our salvation.

• Teaches, guides, counsels, and empowers us throughout life (John 14:26). Left to our own devices, we confuse truth with deception, but God brings clarity.

• Gifts and enables us to do the work God has planned for us (Eph. 2:10; for a list of spiritual gifts, see also 1 Cor. 12).

• Bears fruit through us (Gal. 5:22-23). As we are obedient to what God calls us to do, we get to watch Him work in mighty ways.

All these benefits are available to everyone who follows Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, we too often bypass all of these by attempting to live in our own meager strength. The Christian life is this: Christ living His life in and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit of the living God.

Biblical Love

Corinthians 13:1-8

In today's passage, Paul talks about love and its preeminence over speech, knowledge, generosity, and self-sacrifice (vv. 1-3). The apostle then describes the nature of biblical love, which is patient, kind, humble, and slow to anger (vv. 4-7).

However, we often struggle as we try to practice this model of unselfish affection. One reason is that the godly expression of caring doesn't come naturally to us. Pure Christian love puts the other person ahead of our own interests, even when our human inclinations clamor to place self first (v. 5).

A second challenge is the temptation to withhold affection until others apologize or change their behavior. We remember their offense long after it has occurred. That's not what our Lord did—He loved us while we were still sinners and forgave us for everything (Rom. 5:8; Luke 23:34).

Furthermore, it is easier to point out someone else's unkindness toward us than to see where we have fallen short. Perhaps a close friend has spoken impatiently to us and we responded with angry words. How easily we can use Scripture to point out her mistake, but how hard to admit our own.

We are called to be loving towards God as well as those around us (Mark 12:30-31). We've received the Holy Spirit, who will help us learn how to care deeply for others.

Experiencing God's affection and demonstrating it to others are to be two of our greatest joys. Take time to memorize the attributes of biblical love, and look for ways to practice them in your relationships. In times of stress, think about the list, and let the power of love transform your response.

A Life of Peace

Isaiah 26:2-4

Your home offers protection from the elements. So when a storm rolls in, you seek shelter within the safety of those four walls. The same principle applies to life's storms. If we've built a solid house on a foundation of faith, then we've got a haven to run to when dark clouds gather and anxiety threatens to overwhelm us.

Let's suppose I've got a problem that has me fretting. My stomach is in knots. Friends and family try to be understanding, but they're growing weary of me taking my heartache out on them. I'm so focused on this issue that it feels as if I'm carrying a load on my shoulders. God offers a liberating alternative: "Cast your burden upon [Me] and [I] will sustain you" (Ps. 55:22). He does not erase the ills that invade this life. Instead, He shields us from the weight of worry by taking situations into His own hands.

However, the call to a free and peaceful life goes unheeded unless a person has confidence in the Lord. Trust is built through relationship—praying during daily trials and triumphs, seeking biblical guidance for decisions, and testing God's Word to see that it is true and practical for this life. That's how a house of faith is constructed brick by brick on the solid rock of Jesus Christ.

A believer who trusts in God receives the peace that Philippians 4:7 promises. But unshakeable peace isn't instantaneous; it is cultivated through a consistent relationship with the Lord. A lifestyle of dependence upon Him is the key to weathering storms with supernatural calm.

Unshakeable Peace

Philippians 4:6-7

Anxiety is the enemy of a peaceful life. People go to great lengths to get rid of stress: travel ads promise that vacations will sweep you away from it; gyms offer to help you "sweat it out"; and popular magazines suggest ways to lessen it by adjusting schedules or habits. The problem is that no one can adequately shift circumstances to achieve total freedom from heartache, burdens, or trouble.

However, we can have unshakeable peace during anxious times. Jesus said to seek peace in Him because He has overcome this troublesome world (John 16:33). The key is to shift our focus from the scary problem onto God, who lovingly provides whatever we need from His limitless resources and power (Ps. 50:10; Rom. 8:11).

Serenity can't be manufactured—it's a gift from our heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit produces a sense of calm in believers who seek the Lord's protection against anxiety (Gal. 5:22). The Greek word translated as guard in today's passage literally means "to garrison about." God wraps hearts and minds in peace, effectively safeguarding both against all-consuming worry or fear. Notice that He doesn't make problems go away—we may still be under pressure or prone to weep, but we're cushioned against anxiety and surrounded by peace instead.

Today's verses tell us to pray rather than give in to anxiety. These words are Paul's orders for doing battle against the stresses and troubles of this world. Prayer keeps your mind and heart garrisoned with peace. Keep trusting in God so that your defenses are strong and anxiety cannot slip in.

Our Way or God's Way

Exodus 2:11-25

Whenever challenges come, there are two different ways to respond: God's way or our way. Moses is an example of a man who, on separate occasions, tried out both options. In today's passage, we see what happened when he took matters into his own hands. Although his motives were pure—namely, the relief of his peoples' suffering—his method was wrong. Moses made three mistakes.

1. He focused on the difficulty instead of on the Lord. How often have you and I done the same thing? The unfairness or pain of a situation grabs our attention and in our quest for a solution, we forget our all-powerful God.

2. He relied on his own strength and understanding. When a problem arises, the most natural response is to do what we can to make it right.

3. He acted impulsively rather than waiting on the Lord. If a situation seems urgent, fixing the problem as fast as possible becomes our top priority.

Our way can look so logical at the time, but let's consider how effective Moses was in achieving his goal. An Egyptian was killed, but the Hebrew people weren't liberated. Moses was misunderstood by those he tried to help, and his life took an unexpected detour into the desert for 40 long years.

We've all followed Moses' example at some point and suffered the consequences of self-reliance. But God didn't reject Moses and cancel His plans for him. Instead, He refined the future leader's character through trials and gave him another chance. Don't you think the Lord will do the same for us?

Vision without Boundaries

Matthew 28:16-20

I am persuaded that many of our goals and dreams fail simply because we place limitations upon ourselves. This is true for the church as well—Christ's command to share the gospel is an example.

Jesus gave us the vision to tell all nations about His salvation, and as His followers, we should make this our aim. Many Christians, however, are not working to fulfill this "Great Commission"—at least not fervently and purposefully. Often, what holds us back are the boundaries we place upon ourselves.

Fear is one of the biggest self-erected barriers to success. For instance, if evangelizing means traveling overseas, lack of safety might worry us. We may also feel concern about how family and friends will react to our decision and whether people will react negatively to our message.

Another hindrance might be conditional obedience—that is, a willingness to serve as long as God keeps us in a particular location or has us minister in a country where we don't have to learn a new language. And some people make the inconvenience of spending money, time, or effort into an obstacle that prevents service to the Lord.

There are many barriers that can keep us from sharing the gospel. But when we're willing to tear those down, we'll be amazed at what God can accomplish through us.

Are you passionately sharing the gospel? If not, identify the obstruction that stands in your way, and pray for forgiveness. Refocus by reading the Word and remembering the mission that Jesus gave you. God's love covers the whole world, and He therefore intends that everyone hear the good news.