InChristAlone
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Growing in Faith...Or Not?
Heb 11:17-19 "By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back."
Gen 22:1-19 "And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah. And offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. And he clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. And they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father. And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold, the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for a burnt-offering? And Abraham said, God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son. So they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of. And Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of Jehovah called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham. And he said, Here I am. And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him. For now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh. As it is said to this day, In the mount of Jehovah it shall be provided. And the angel of Jehovah called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because thou hast obeyed my voice.So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba. And Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba."
I've been studying the life and faith of Abraham. It seems that God brought Abraham many tests to prove the genuineness of his faith. In the above account, Abraham's faith stood the test. When called to make the ultimate sacrifice, he made it. But as I began to look at the whole of Abraham's life, I realized that though he was a man noted for his faith, there were times when he did not demonstrate that strong faith. The setbacks Abraham experienced were a result of his distrust in God.
In one such instance (Genesis 12:10-20), Abraham went to Egypt after a famine in the land of Canaan. In Egypt, he convinced Sarah, his wife, to conceal truth, thus putting her in a hard position (Pharaoh wanting to take her as his wife). Abraham had panicked. He had taken matters into his own hands instead of trusting God to protect both he and his wife. More importantly, he forgot about the line. From Abraham's seed would come the Christ. (God's sovereign will was ultimately done, as we know.) In this instance, had Abraham been so afraid that this escaped his mind? Where was the man of strong faith that I read of in Genesis 22 and Hebrews 11?
I believe that Abraham learned hard lessons in the faithless times that brought him to a remarkable growth point.Time and time again, he encountered trials and time and time again, those trials were proving the genuineness of his faith. Strong faith is often exercised with strong trials.
This account of Abraham's obedience shows the character of the Lord. The Lord is all-knowing, so it was not hidden from Him that Abraham loved his son, Isaac dearly. This trial was to prove Abraham's faith, to make him more like the Christ He had confidence in. Abraham was to put his son on display as a sacrifice (burnt offering). What is also interesting to me is that Abraham traveled 3 days to get to the destination (Moriah) where he would offer up his son! 3 days journey that could have caused him to change his mind and turn back, only caused him to become more confident that God would not break His promise to him.
When he was called upon by God to make the ultimate sacrifice (offering up his only son, Isaac), he did not falter in his faith. He believed and trusted God to the utmost. And even though it was God Who had extended His grace and mercy to Abraham in the times that Abraham failed, God blessed him for that faith. God remained faithful and blessed Abraham just as He said He would. Abraham had one son and was willing to part with that one son. Therefore, God recompensed his obedience with thousands, even millions of "sons" in generations to come.
Do I think this account was given to show how great of a man Abraham was? No. I think this account was given to show us what we can be only by the grace of God. It reveals that we serve a faithful God. It reveals the glory of God because only He can make us new creatures and take us to amazing heights of faith! How could Abraham have had such faith? His heart was turned from himself to care more about the plans and purposes of His heavenly Father. The grace he had been extended was enough for him to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
Here's how Matthew Henry puts it:
"Whatever is dearest to us upon earth is our Isaac. And the only way for us to find comfort in an earthly thing, is to give it by faith into the hands of God. Yet remember that Abraham was not justified by his readiness to obey, but by the infinitely more noble obedience of Jesus Christ; his faith receiving this, relying on this, rejoicing in this, disposed and made him able for such wonderful self-denial and duty."
This account does nothing less than point us back to the glory of Jesus Christ. Who gave His only Son for the salvation of man? God the Father. And Who was willing to give His life as a sacrifice in obedience to His Father's will? Jesus Christ.
Where do we stand in our faith? Have we learned from the times of faithlessness? Have we, like Abraham, seen the faithfulness of God, and exercised confidence in Him?
As Abraham came to understand Who God was and who he was not in light of the glory of God, he became trusting and obedient. And despite the failed attempts, God still blessed him for the times that he was faithful. And he blessed him immensely! But the basis for such strong faith was a heart changed by the grace of God. Praise God that He has given us His Spirit! Through Him we are forever changing and growing.
Gal 3:14 "that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
[***One final sidenote: The temple was later built on that same hill (Mount Moriah) where Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac. Jehovah-jireh--"the LORD will provide." And He did provide. His faithfulness has been proven from generation to generation.
( 2Ch 3:1 "Then Solomon began to build the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem on mount Moriah, where Jehovah appeared unto David his father, which he made ready in the place that David had appointed, in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.")]
"Dear Father,
Thank You for You- the ultimate sacrifice. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for Your Spirit that enables me to change and grow more like You. May I learn from the life and faith of Abraham how to be closer to You. Help me to always have a teachable spirit.
In Jesus' name,
Amen."
Love in Christ,
Heather
Gen 22:1-19 "And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah. And offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. And he clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. And they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father. And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold, the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for a burnt-offering? And Abraham said, God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son. So they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of. And Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of Jehovah called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham. And he said, Here I am. And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him. For now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh. As it is said to this day, In the mount of Jehovah it shall be provided. And the angel of Jehovah called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because thou hast obeyed my voice.So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba. And Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba."
I've been studying the life and faith of Abraham. It seems that God brought Abraham many tests to prove the genuineness of his faith. In the above account, Abraham's faith stood the test. When called to make the ultimate sacrifice, he made it. But as I began to look at the whole of Abraham's life, I realized that though he was a man noted for his faith, there were times when he did not demonstrate that strong faith. The setbacks Abraham experienced were a result of his distrust in God.
In one such instance (Genesis 12:10-20), Abraham went to Egypt after a famine in the land of Canaan. In Egypt, he convinced Sarah, his wife, to conceal truth, thus putting her in a hard position (Pharaoh wanting to take her as his wife). Abraham had panicked. He had taken matters into his own hands instead of trusting God to protect both he and his wife. More importantly, he forgot about the line. From Abraham's seed would come the Christ. (God's sovereign will was ultimately done, as we know.) In this instance, had Abraham been so afraid that this escaped his mind? Where was the man of strong faith that I read of in Genesis 22 and Hebrews 11?
I believe that Abraham learned hard lessons in the faithless times that brought him to a remarkable growth point.Time and time again, he encountered trials and time and time again, those trials were proving the genuineness of his faith. Strong faith is often exercised with strong trials.
This account of Abraham's obedience shows the character of the Lord. The Lord is all-knowing, so it was not hidden from Him that Abraham loved his son, Isaac dearly. This trial was to prove Abraham's faith, to make him more like the Christ He had confidence in. Abraham was to put his son on display as a sacrifice (burnt offering). What is also interesting to me is that Abraham traveled 3 days to get to the destination (Moriah) where he would offer up his son! 3 days journey that could have caused him to change his mind and turn back, only caused him to become more confident that God would not break His promise to him.
When he was called upon by God to make the ultimate sacrifice (offering up his only son, Isaac), he did not falter in his faith. He believed and trusted God to the utmost. And even though it was God Who had extended His grace and mercy to Abraham in the times that Abraham failed, God blessed him for that faith. God remained faithful and blessed Abraham just as He said He would. Abraham had one son and was willing to part with that one son. Therefore, God recompensed his obedience with thousands, even millions of "sons" in generations to come.
Do I think this account was given to show how great of a man Abraham was? No. I think this account was given to show us what we can be only by the grace of God. It reveals that we serve a faithful God. It reveals the glory of God because only He can make us new creatures and take us to amazing heights of faith! How could Abraham have had such faith? His heart was turned from himself to care more about the plans and purposes of His heavenly Father. The grace he had been extended was enough for him to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
Here's how Matthew Henry puts it:
"Whatever is dearest to us upon earth is our Isaac. And the only way for us to find comfort in an earthly thing, is to give it by faith into the hands of God. Yet remember that Abraham was not justified by his readiness to obey, but by the infinitely more noble obedience of Jesus Christ; his faith receiving this, relying on this, rejoicing in this, disposed and made him able for such wonderful self-denial and duty."
This account does nothing less than point us back to the glory of Jesus Christ. Who gave His only Son for the salvation of man? God the Father. And Who was willing to give His life as a sacrifice in obedience to His Father's will? Jesus Christ.
Where do we stand in our faith? Have we learned from the times of faithlessness? Have we, like Abraham, seen the faithfulness of God, and exercised confidence in Him?
As Abraham came to understand Who God was and who he was not in light of the glory of God, he became trusting and obedient. And despite the failed attempts, God still blessed him for the times that he was faithful. And he blessed him immensely! But the basis for such strong faith was a heart changed by the grace of God. Praise God that He has given us His Spirit! Through Him we are forever changing and growing.
Gal 3:14 "that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
[***One final sidenote: The temple was later built on that same hill (Mount Moriah) where Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac. Jehovah-jireh--"the LORD will provide." And He did provide. His faithfulness has been proven from generation to generation.
( 2Ch 3:1 "Then Solomon began to build the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem on mount Moriah, where Jehovah appeared unto David his father, which he made ready in the place that David had appointed, in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.")]
"Dear Father,
Thank You for You- the ultimate sacrifice. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for Your Spirit that enables me to change and grow more like You. May I learn from the life and faith of Abraham how to be closer to You. Help me to always have a teachable spirit.
In Jesus' name,
Amen."
Love in Christ,
Heather
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Man's Wisdom Vs. God's Wisdom
Mark 8:31-33
"And he[Jesus] began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again."
"And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him."
"But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, 'Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men."
The setting--Jesus reveals the Gospel to His disciples. He speaks of His earthly suffering, His rejection by the top leaders, His death, and His resurrection. He was not speaking in a low tone or secretly, but openly. I think this also means He spoke plainly enough so that His disciples knew directly what He was referring to.
Peter feels that Jesus' words are not comfortable and that He should not talk of His death. Peter loved Christ, but he saw His death as a type of martyrdom. He did not want to see the One he loved endure suffering. But Peter was forgetting that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus rebuked Peter for his reaction. He also did this openly, maybe because He knew that some of the other disciples felt the same way. He was making a point.
Jesus states that Peter's reaction was of Satan and that the result of Peter's misunderstanding was that he cared more for the things of men than God. Peter spoke as one who did not understand the counsels of God. Peter could have possibly been convinced that Jesus' power would not compel Him to have to suffer. I think Peter believed that Jesus knew all things and therefore, He would see harm and danger beforehand and avoid suffering.
As Matthew Henry puts it, "...[Peter}he knew not that the thing was necessary for the glory of God, the destruction of Satan, and the salvation of man, that the Captain of our salvation must be made perfect through sufferings, and so must bring many sons to glory. "
The wisdom of man is foolishness when trying to determine God's ways. The cross of Christ is still to this day to some a stumblingblock.
Peter looked at Christ's kingdom as being temporal and human. He was so consumed with comfort and complacency that the world had to offer him that he did not understand God's sovereignty in suffering and agony.
As a person becomes so consumed by the things of men and not enough by the things of God, they will see suffering as an enfringement on their own comfortable life.This is not something to let go. This is a sin. My own comfort and ease can become an idol in my life. Suffering and pain will create misunderstanding because I am only understanding how God works through human eyes. I need spiritual eyes to see the glory of the Cross, the glory in suffering and how my faith is being tried in order to show the worth of my God and Saviour and my own worthlessness. The trying of faith should reveal that all hope is in Him.
"The mystery of the Cross I cannot comprehend
The agonies of Calvary,
You the Perfect Holy One crushed Your Son,
Drank the bitter cup reserved for me. "
Praise God for the agonies of Calvary and the bitter cup that Jesus drank for me! As Christ was in the world so are we and as He gloried in His Father's ordaining of suffering, so should we.
"And he[Jesus] began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again."
"And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him."
"But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, 'Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men."
The setting--Jesus reveals the Gospel to His disciples. He speaks of His earthly suffering, His rejection by the top leaders, His death, and His resurrection. He was not speaking in a low tone or secretly, but openly. I think this also means He spoke plainly enough so that His disciples knew directly what He was referring to.
Peter feels that Jesus' words are not comfortable and that He should not talk of His death. Peter loved Christ, but he saw His death as a type of martyrdom. He did not want to see the One he loved endure suffering. But Peter was forgetting that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus rebuked Peter for his reaction. He also did this openly, maybe because He knew that some of the other disciples felt the same way. He was making a point.
Jesus states that Peter's reaction was of Satan and that the result of Peter's misunderstanding was that he cared more for the things of men than God. Peter spoke as one who did not understand the counsels of God. Peter could have possibly been convinced that Jesus' power would not compel Him to have to suffer. I think Peter believed that Jesus knew all things and therefore, He would see harm and danger beforehand and avoid suffering.
As Matthew Henry puts it, "...[Peter}he knew not that the thing was necessary for the glory of God, the destruction of Satan, and the salvation of man, that the Captain of our salvation must be made perfect through sufferings, and so must bring many sons to glory. "
The wisdom of man is foolishness when trying to determine God's ways. The cross of Christ is still to this day to some a stumblingblock.
Peter looked at Christ's kingdom as being temporal and human. He was so consumed with comfort and complacency that the world had to offer him that he did not understand God's sovereignty in suffering and agony.
As a person becomes so consumed by the things of men and not enough by the things of God, they will see suffering as an enfringement on their own comfortable life.This is not something to let go. This is a sin. My own comfort and ease can become an idol in my life. Suffering and pain will create misunderstanding because I am only understanding how God works through human eyes. I need spiritual eyes to see the glory of the Cross, the glory in suffering and how my faith is being tried in order to show the worth of my God and Saviour and my own worthlessness. The trying of faith should reveal that all hope is in Him.
"The mystery of the Cross I cannot comprehend
The agonies of Calvary,
You the Perfect Holy One crushed Your Son,
Drank the bitter cup reserved for me. "
Praise God for the agonies of Calvary and the bitter cup that Jesus drank for me! As Christ was in the world so are we and as He gloried in His Father's ordaining of suffering, so should we.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Purposeful Love: Living For the Glory of God
Mark 5:17-20
"Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled."
The Lord has spoken to my heart through this passage today. I read it and reread it and could not believe how I had missed this before.
This is the story of Jesus casting out the unclean spirits from a man and commanding them to go into swine. I marvel at the reaction of the spirits to Jesus Christ. However, verses 17-20 are what really grabbed my attention.
1) Though Jesus had delivered this man from the power of Satan, the spectators desired that He leave their country. Why? Because they loved the world more than Jesus. They had suffered a severe loss. Their swine had been killed. Their profit from the herd of swine was more important to them than having Jesus with them, whose power had broken the hold of Satan in their country.
2) Jesus left their country. Their hearts were not receptive to Him. He left them to their own cares. What a sad picture of those who reject Christ!
3) The man who had been freed from the demons begged Jesus to permit him to go with Him. He desired to be with Him immediately. Maybe this man was scared, maybe this man could not see his purpose in staying behind, but it says he begged.
4) Notice Jesus' reaction. (this is where it really gets good:)
He did not permit the man to go with Him at that moment. Instead He tells him to go home and tell his family and friends what great things the Lord had done for him and how the Lord had shown compassion on him. Here was the purpose for which he had been created--to spread the glory of God by living for Christ!!! The Lord Jesus Christ is not unkind to save us and leave us on this earth. When we face the pressures of this world as He lives within us, we understand the depth of His love and mercy.
Matthew 26:42 [Jesus' prayer]
" He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."
Oh, the agony seen in the Garden of Gethsemane and oh, the depth of the Father's love! Jesus drank of the bitter cup. His meat was to do the will of the Father. Our Abba Father gave His only Son for us. The Son now intercedes for us and (in a sense) gives us to the Father in order that the glory of God be spread throughout all nations!
I have found myself wondering at times why the moment after we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, that we do not go to be with Him. This passage reiterated that clear purpose. His glory is spread and the depth of His love and mercy is revealed as we live in this present world.
This is why we cannot be 'closed-off ' Christians. Yes, it is true, we are in the world and not of the world. But what is our purpose for being in the world? Is it not to spread the glory of God and to show others the great things the Lord has done for us, to show them the compassion that He has shown us? It is not to avoid contact with the outside world. It is not to shun unbelievers because of our supposed self-righteousness.
What a picture of true enduring love! We have been given the gift of His Spirit. He is alway within us and it is His power that sustains us and keeps us pressing on not for ourselves, but for Him. We do not serve a cruel God because we deal with the pressures of the world. We serve a powerful, loving, merciful, compassionate God whose great glory may be spread through the fine tuning of His instruments. We are His instruments. He is the One Who fine tunes us. The day-ins and day-outs of life are opportunities to prove our love for Him. Every morning that we wake up, we are shown the mercy of a sovereign God. His love has been shed abroad in our hearts. He holds us in His arms each day and we are under the shadow of His wings.
But why, why, why, am I going through this circumstance of life, someone might ask? Why would He allow His child to endure the cold dark world? The answer comes in the form of a question. Why did God the Father send His only Son to die on a cross for our sins? Because He is God and He was glorified through that sacrifice!!
I have often been skeptical of the "God is Love" message that fails to preach of the fear and wrath of God and condones wrongdoing. But there is a balance to be obtained because, in reality, God's love is at the heart of all doctrine. The love of God shed abroad in our hearts is for the glory of God!
The love of Jesus Christ is the most unfathomable love of all! I want my love for Him to be proved. I gladly serve Him in this world covered by His blood so that He, the Love of my life, is glorified above all!
Do I want to merely exist or do I want to live to spread the glory of God? Every day is an endless opportunity to live in His love!
"Father,
Make me an instrument of your love. Lord, work in me to replace selfishness with a hunger for You and a compassion for lost souls. Show me Your glory. Help me to live in such a way that Your glory is experienced and expressed. Thank You for the revelation to Your child. Your love has been so real to me today. Forgive me for complaining when I do not understand. You alone are my reason for living. I thank You. I praise You. I live for You alone.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen."
"Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled."
The Lord has spoken to my heart through this passage today. I read it and reread it and could not believe how I had missed this before.
This is the story of Jesus casting out the unclean spirits from a man and commanding them to go into swine. I marvel at the reaction of the spirits to Jesus Christ. However, verses 17-20 are what really grabbed my attention.
1) Though Jesus had delivered this man from the power of Satan, the spectators desired that He leave their country. Why? Because they loved the world more than Jesus. They had suffered a severe loss. Their swine had been killed. Their profit from the herd of swine was more important to them than having Jesus with them, whose power had broken the hold of Satan in their country.
2) Jesus left their country. Their hearts were not receptive to Him. He left them to their own cares. What a sad picture of those who reject Christ!
3) The man who had been freed from the demons begged Jesus to permit him to go with Him. He desired to be with Him immediately. Maybe this man was scared, maybe this man could not see his purpose in staying behind, but it says he begged.
4) Notice Jesus' reaction. (this is where it really gets good:)
He did not permit the man to go with Him at that moment. Instead He tells him to go home and tell his family and friends what great things the Lord had done for him and how the Lord had shown compassion on him. Here was the purpose for which he had been created--to spread the glory of God by living for Christ!!! The Lord Jesus Christ is not unkind to save us and leave us on this earth. When we face the pressures of this world as He lives within us, we understand the depth of His love and mercy.
Matthew 26:42 [Jesus' prayer]
" He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."
Oh, the agony seen in the Garden of Gethsemane and oh, the depth of the Father's love! Jesus drank of the bitter cup. His meat was to do the will of the Father. Our Abba Father gave His only Son for us. The Son now intercedes for us and (in a sense) gives us to the Father in order that the glory of God be spread throughout all nations!
I have found myself wondering at times why the moment after we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, that we do not go to be with Him. This passage reiterated that clear purpose. His glory is spread and the depth of His love and mercy is revealed as we live in this present world.
This is why we cannot be 'closed-off ' Christians. Yes, it is true, we are in the world and not of the world. But what is our purpose for being in the world? Is it not to spread the glory of God and to show others the great things the Lord has done for us, to show them the compassion that He has shown us? It is not to avoid contact with the outside world. It is not to shun unbelievers because of our supposed self-righteousness.
What a picture of true enduring love! We have been given the gift of His Spirit. He is alway within us and it is His power that sustains us and keeps us pressing on not for ourselves, but for Him. We do not serve a cruel God because we deal with the pressures of the world. We serve a powerful, loving, merciful, compassionate God whose great glory may be spread through the fine tuning of His instruments. We are His instruments. He is the One Who fine tunes us. The day-ins and day-outs of life are opportunities to prove our love for Him. Every morning that we wake up, we are shown the mercy of a sovereign God. His love has been shed abroad in our hearts. He holds us in His arms each day and we are under the shadow of His wings.
But why, why, why, am I going through this circumstance of life, someone might ask? Why would He allow His child to endure the cold dark world? The answer comes in the form of a question. Why did God the Father send His only Son to die on a cross for our sins? Because He is God and He was glorified through that sacrifice!!
I have often been skeptical of the "God is Love" message that fails to preach of the fear and wrath of God and condones wrongdoing. But there is a balance to be obtained because, in reality, God's love is at the heart of all doctrine. The love of God shed abroad in our hearts is for the glory of God!
The love of Jesus Christ is the most unfathomable love of all! I want my love for Him to be proved. I gladly serve Him in this world covered by His blood so that He, the Love of my life, is glorified above all!
Do I want to merely exist or do I want to live to spread the glory of God? Every day is an endless opportunity to live in His love!
"Father,
Make me an instrument of your love. Lord, work in me to replace selfishness with a hunger for You and a compassion for lost souls. Show me Your glory. Help me to live in such a way that Your glory is experienced and expressed. Thank You for the revelation to Your child. Your love has been so real to me today. Forgive me for complaining when I do not understand. You alone are my reason for living. I thank You. I praise You. I live for You alone.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen."
Monday, February 06, 2006
Be Ready Always
I Peter 3:12-16
"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."
"And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?"
"But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled:"
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear:"
"Having a good conscience, that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ."
Various thoughts from my journal:
The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. He is seeking to give strong support to those whose hearts are His. My righteousness is His righteousness. Because of Christ, I am pleasing in His [God the Father] sight. He sees me and He hears my genuine prayers. But His pleasure is not on those who set their hearts on evil. Even those who desire to do evil cannot harm me by words or deeds if I follow after what is good in the sight of God. If I suffer, I suffer for the righteousness of a holy God. This should produce happiness because God's glory is being spread. The enemy tries to terrify me and get me to fall in faith by troubling my mind with doubts and fears.
So, how can I declare the Gospel to the world when I am afraid and feel unworthy to do so? By placing God first in my heart and mind. By setting Him (Who is holy, pure, true) above all else. By thinking about only things that constitute a holy God (Philippians 4:8-9). This is how I can speak that word in due season. This is how I can be ready to answer every man. Others will ask of the hope that is in me. I can answer with meekness and fear if God reigns in my heart. All I am and have been brought to is by His grace and if I boast, I boast in Him, not my understanding or good works. What people need to see in me is the power of Christ, not my determination to be perfectly righteous. I must be willing to admit my weaknesses, admit where I've been wrong, admit that I have to lean on God in order to live righteously. My goal is not to show people Christ according to my wisdom or good works or the standard by which I think they ought to live. I am teaching others what I am still being taught--that there is no hope of becoming righteous outside of Christ and that my purpose in living means glorifying Him, not living for myself. It is about brokenness and surrender. By laying my life at Jesus' feet, I am not being enslaved to His power, but being freed from all bondage and being kept by His power.
I often dwell on my inadequacies and see them as a stumblingblock in my faith. But the truth is that the more weaknesses I have and accept, the more glory is brought to God. However, I cannot hold onto my weaknesses or use them as a crutch, but must surrender them into the hands of an all-powerful God. The more I see I can't do things on my own, the more I rest in His victory. The more I rest in His victory, the more I can be ready always to answer those who ask of the hope that is in me. If I believe that I am nothing without Him and my hope is in Him, then I can express this faith to others and spread the Gospel. I am not trying to get others to see that I am perfect in faith, instead I am expressing to them my unworthiness and Christ's worthiness.
I found this quote in a devotional I am reading:
"It was said of the soldiers of the first Napoleon that they were content to die in the ditch if only he rode over them to victory. With their last breath they cried, 'Long live the Emperor!' It seemed as though they had lost all thought and care of their own interests, so long as glory was given to his name. So should it be of us. Higher than our own comfort, or success, or popularity, should be the one thought of the glory of our God. Let Christ be honored, loved, exalted, at whatever cost to us..."
As I lose thought of all my own interests and die to self, Christ is honored and exalted. I will become effective in sharing the Gospel because I have given up all of my own comforts for His victory.
These are questions I had to ask myself:
As I seek to share the Gospel, is the one thought of my mind the glory of God or how it enfringes on my own personal comfort?
If God is not first in my own heart, how can I move past my own comfort and be effective in sharing the Gospel?
Praise God for how He has spoken to my heart! He is so worthy!
"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."
"And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?"
"But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled:"
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear:"
"Having a good conscience, that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ."
Various thoughts from my journal:
The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. He is seeking to give strong support to those whose hearts are His. My righteousness is His righteousness. Because of Christ, I am pleasing in His [God the Father] sight. He sees me and He hears my genuine prayers. But His pleasure is not on those who set their hearts on evil. Even those who desire to do evil cannot harm me by words or deeds if I follow after what is good in the sight of God. If I suffer, I suffer for the righteousness of a holy God. This should produce happiness because God's glory is being spread. The enemy tries to terrify me and get me to fall in faith by troubling my mind with doubts and fears.
So, how can I declare the Gospel to the world when I am afraid and feel unworthy to do so? By placing God first in my heart and mind. By setting Him (Who is holy, pure, true) above all else. By thinking about only things that constitute a holy God (Philippians 4:8-9). This is how I can speak that word in due season. This is how I can be ready to answer every man. Others will ask of the hope that is in me. I can answer with meekness and fear if God reigns in my heart. All I am and have been brought to is by His grace and if I boast, I boast in Him, not my understanding or good works. What people need to see in me is the power of Christ, not my determination to be perfectly righteous. I must be willing to admit my weaknesses, admit where I've been wrong, admit that I have to lean on God in order to live righteously. My goal is not to show people Christ according to my wisdom or good works or the standard by which I think they ought to live. I am teaching others what I am still being taught--that there is no hope of becoming righteous outside of Christ and that my purpose in living means glorifying Him, not living for myself. It is about brokenness and surrender. By laying my life at Jesus' feet, I am not being enslaved to His power, but being freed from all bondage and being kept by His power.
I often dwell on my inadequacies and see them as a stumblingblock in my faith. But the truth is that the more weaknesses I have and accept, the more glory is brought to God. However, I cannot hold onto my weaknesses or use them as a crutch, but must surrender them into the hands of an all-powerful God. The more I see I can't do things on my own, the more I rest in His victory. The more I rest in His victory, the more I can be ready always to answer those who ask of the hope that is in me. If I believe that I am nothing without Him and my hope is in Him, then I can express this faith to others and spread the Gospel. I am not trying to get others to see that I am perfect in faith, instead I am expressing to them my unworthiness and Christ's worthiness.
I found this quote in a devotional I am reading:
"It was said of the soldiers of the first Napoleon that they were content to die in the ditch if only he rode over them to victory. With their last breath they cried, 'Long live the Emperor!' It seemed as though they had lost all thought and care of their own interests, so long as glory was given to his name. So should it be of us. Higher than our own comfort, or success, or popularity, should be the one thought of the glory of our God. Let Christ be honored, loved, exalted, at whatever cost to us..."
As I lose thought of all my own interests and die to self, Christ is honored and exalted. I will become effective in sharing the Gospel because I have given up all of my own comforts for His victory.
These are questions I had to ask myself:
As I seek to share the Gospel, is the one thought of my mind the glory of God or how it enfringes on my own personal comfort?
If God is not first in my own heart, how can I move past my own comfort and be effective in sharing the Gospel?
Praise God for how He has spoken to my heart! He is so worthy!
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Diligent Faith
Hebrews 6:11
"And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end."
Hebrews 11:6
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
The word diligence can mean:
a) haste, with haste
b) earnestness in accomplishing, promoting, or striving after anything
c) to give all diligence, interest one's self most earnestly
Diligence conveys that something is being promoted or strived after. In Hebrews 6:11, Paul is encouraging the Hebrews to demonstrate diligence in order to promote full assurance of the hope that is in them. But isn't faith required to be diligent in the spiritual disciplines, to promote holiness in our lives as Christ is holy? I believe that Paul is talking about being diligent in their faith and because of their faith.
In Hebrews 11:6, we are told that "without faith it is impossible to please him." So, whether we are diligent or not, if we do not have faith in Him, then we cannot please Him?
This is what became so clear to me. Faith is required to be diligent. Diligence in pursuing after God pleases God. The faith that was purchased by Christ on the Cross is what keeps us pressing on and striving after righteousness and the pursuit of holiness. Faith is needed to believe that He is the Three in One, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Faith is needed to believe in His remarkable character ( omnipresent, omniscient, all-sufficient, just to name a few). Faith is needed to believe that He is our reward and that we will one day see Him in all of His glory. Faith is what keeps us going. It is "the substance of things hoped for" and "the evidence of things not seen." But that faith is only ours by the shedding of the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 11:13
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
In Hebrews 11, there are examples of godly men and women of faith. Though many had not received the promises, they lived in full assurance of the hope that these would all one day be fulfilled. Their faith enabled them to have their eyes opened to the promises of God, to come to the realization that they were true, to embrace or accept and hold on to them, and to understand their identity as children of God in relation to these promises.
Notice that those who were examples were diligent in living by faith even up to the end of their time here on earth. They pressed on in Jesus' name. Faith was the eye of their souls. They diligently sought the Lord and followed His lead because of the free gift of faith given by Christ's sacrifice. Faith set the prize clear before their eyes.
We have a responsibility to be diligent to pursue Christ in all of His holiness. But the basis of our diligence is the work of Christ on the Cross. Though life's battles are raging and the choices to be made are hard, we have what it takes because we are in Christ. Giving up is not an option. Perseverance is not in question. How and why do we press on? All in Jesus' name! Without Christ we can do nothing, but with Him nothing is impossible. Though the battle with the flesh rages on, our victory was, is, and always will be in Jesus Christ. Praise Him that He is our great reward! It is He Who gives us the grace and faith to diligently pursue Him and His kingdom!
"And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end."
Hebrews 11:6
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
The word diligence can mean:
a) haste, with haste
b) earnestness in accomplishing, promoting, or striving after anything
c) to give all diligence, interest one's self most earnestly
Diligence conveys that something is being promoted or strived after. In Hebrews 6:11, Paul is encouraging the Hebrews to demonstrate diligence in order to promote full assurance of the hope that is in them. But isn't faith required to be diligent in the spiritual disciplines, to promote holiness in our lives as Christ is holy? I believe that Paul is talking about being diligent in their faith and because of their faith.
In Hebrews 11:6, we are told that "without faith it is impossible to please him." So, whether we are diligent or not, if we do not have faith in Him, then we cannot please Him?
This is what became so clear to me. Faith is required to be diligent. Diligence in pursuing after God pleases God. The faith that was purchased by Christ on the Cross is what keeps us pressing on and striving after righteousness and the pursuit of holiness. Faith is needed to believe that He is the Three in One, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Faith is needed to believe in His remarkable character ( omnipresent, omniscient, all-sufficient, just to name a few). Faith is needed to believe that He is our reward and that we will one day see Him in all of His glory. Faith is what keeps us going. It is "the substance of things hoped for" and "the evidence of things not seen." But that faith is only ours by the shedding of the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 11:13
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
In Hebrews 11, there are examples of godly men and women of faith. Though many had not received the promises, they lived in full assurance of the hope that these would all one day be fulfilled. Their faith enabled them to have their eyes opened to the promises of God, to come to the realization that they were true, to embrace or accept and hold on to them, and to understand their identity as children of God in relation to these promises.
Notice that those who were examples were diligent in living by faith even up to the end of their time here on earth. They pressed on in Jesus' name. Faith was the eye of their souls. They diligently sought the Lord and followed His lead because of the free gift of faith given by Christ's sacrifice. Faith set the prize clear before their eyes.
We have a responsibility to be diligent to pursue Christ in all of His holiness. But the basis of our diligence is the work of Christ on the Cross. Though life's battles are raging and the choices to be made are hard, we have what it takes because we are in Christ. Giving up is not an option. Perseverance is not in question. How and why do we press on? All in Jesus' name! Without Christ we can do nothing, but with Him nothing is impossible. Though the battle with the flesh rages on, our victory was, is, and always will be in Jesus Christ. Praise Him that He is our great reward! It is He Who gives us the grace and faith to diligently pursue Him and His kingdom!
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Matthew 10:37-39
"He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
"And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me."
"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."
We have a high calling. We, as disciples of Christ, are called to prefer Christ above all else . We exist for His glory. In this passage, there are three ways in which we are to prefer Christ:
1) before our nearest and dearest relations
2) before our ease and safety
3) before life itself
I focused on v. 39. Christ repeated this profound phrase many times. In John 12:25, it is presented in a similar manner.
"He that loveth his life shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal."
What does it mean to "lose" my life? I believe this implies laying down all earthly holds and claims to myself. It means a complete denying of self in order to gain Christ. In other words, if I continue to try to hold on to my life, I will give up true life. Loving my own life will cause me to lose any sense of real purpose. My life will become a reckless mess. I will simply be existing--but for what? My reasoning will be to do what only pleases me. Where will that lead? That is not really living, it is wasting my time here.
Losing my life means despising self-gratification. Preferring Christ above life itself will not cause me to lose my purpose, but instead make it clearer than ever before. Living will mean being disciplined to live for His glory and for His own "good pleasure." It does not imply that I am a slave, but rather a servant. Again, I am denying self in order to gain Christ.
Can many of us recall our sense of purpose before we gained access into Christ's kingdom? To lose my life for Christ means that I am not just existing anymore, I am truly living. I have been moved into the purpose for which I was created by God's grace alone. He is our Creator King as well as the Redeemer of His Creation.
Lately, I have had to ask myself these questions regarding what place Christ has in my heart:
1) Do I try to hold on to my life instead of submitting every part to Jesus Christ?
2) If so, is it because of pride, thinking I know what is best for me, or because I am afraid of what I might lose in following Christ?
3)Have I reached the place where I truly believe that Christ is gain?
What I have come to realize through studying this passage more closely is that to deny Christ by clinging to a claim on my life is to lose sight of my whole existence. Jesus Christ is Life. I did not know what living was until I became His child. I now live under the precious blood of Jesus Christ and understand that "to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)
Here is a quote from Matthew Henry to meditate on:
"They are best prepared for the life to come, that sit most loose to this present life."
"He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
"And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me."
"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."
We have a high calling. We, as disciples of Christ, are called to prefer Christ above all else . We exist for His glory. In this passage, there are three ways in which we are to prefer Christ:
1) before our nearest and dearest relations
2) before our ease and safety
3) before life itself
I focused on v. 39. Christ repeated this profound phrase many times. In John 12:25, it is presented in a similar manner.
"He that loveth his life shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal."
What does it mean to "lose" my life? I believe this implies laying down all earthly holds and claims to myself. It means a complete denying of self in order to gain Christ. In other words, if I continue to try to hold on to my life, I will give up true life. Loving my own life will cause me to lose any sense of real purpose. My life will become a reckless mess. I will simply be existing--but for what? My reasoning will be to do what only pleases me. Where will that lead? That is not really living, it is wasting my time here.
Losing my life means despising self-gratification. Preferring Christ above life itself will not cause me to lose my purpose, but instead make it clearer than ever before. Living will mean being disciplined to live for His glory and for His own "good pleasure." It does not imply that I am a slave, but rather a servant. Again, I am denying self in order to gain Christ.
Can many of us recall our sense of purpose before we gained access into Christ's kingdom? To lose my life for Christ means that I am not just existing anymore, I am truly living. I have been moved into the purpose for which I was created by God's grace alone. He is our Creator King as well as the Redeemer of His Creation.
Lately, I have had to ask myself these questions regarding what place Christ has in my heart:
1) Do I try to hold on to my life instead of submitting every part to Jesus Christ?
2) If so, is it because of pride, thinking I know what is best for me, or because I am afraid of what I might lose in following Christ?
3)Have I reached the place where I truly believe that Christ is gain?
What I have come to realize through studying this passage more closely is that to deny Christ by clinging to a claim on my life is to lose sight of my whole existence. Jesus Christ is Life. I did not know what living was until I became His child. I now live under the precious blood of Jesus Christ and understand that "to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)
Here is a quote from Matthew Henry to meditate on:
"They are best prepared for the life to come, that sit most loose to this present life."
Thursday, December 22, 2005
A Content Life is a Godly Life
Galatians 2:20
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Bits and pieces from my journal:
"The life that I now live in the flesh"--This phrase implies that I have a responsibility. Christ lives in me, but I was created with a free will to choose how to conduct myself. Do I live this life "by the faith of the Son of God"?
I will be the first to admit that I do not always live by faith. I have been guilty of leaning on my own understanding. Sometimes I fall into the trap of thinking that since Christ lives in me, spiritual growth will just happen over time. But I have been taught about the sovereignty of God along with the responsibility of man.
So how is this fixed? I have to get to the heart of the matter. When I am experiencing a lack of motivation to pursue godliness, I realize that my focus has gotten off of the Cross. My eyes have not been fixed on the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I begin to get busy and discontentment creeps in. My "problems" start getting bigger and bigger and the Cross gets smaller and smaller.
This verse in Philippians describes what living a content life looks like:
Philippians 4:11-13
"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Thoughts on these verses:
Notice here that Paul had to learn to live in this state of contentment. He had to learn to submit to the will of God, which was to give thanks in all things (I Thessalonians 5:18). He had to learn that his sufficiency was from God (2 Corinthians 3:5). He had to learn to avoid covetousness in his conduct (Hebrews 13:5) and lean on God's promise that He would never leave or forsake him.
I Timothy 6:6-8
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content."
Timothy as well as Paul stresses contentment. Look at these three little words in verse 6. "godliness with contentment"--Godliness comes first. We must discipline ourselves to submit and obey God--to be Christlike. Contentment is learned through walking with the Lord. Focusing on the Cross enables us to pursue godliness "with contentment." Timothy says here that a godly life should be a content life, and such a life is of great gain.
Paul states in Philippians 4 that he learned contentment. He was able to learn to be content because he submitted to the will of God and saw all that had been given him by the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.
Here is what I saw:
How was it possible for Paul to have such contentment? Wasn't it because he "lived by the faith of the Son of God"? He had incredible faith. But where did that faith come from? Through Christ who strengthened him. (v. 13) "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." The power of Christ in Paul enboldened him to be content in every circumstance of life.
Paul's faith had to have grown for him to learn to be so content as he went through each of the circumstances of his life. I believe that his faith grew because his eyes were set on the prize. He was looking at Christ and the Cross, not Paul's insufficiencies or seemingly hopeless circumstances, or even countless responsibilities that had not yet been fulfilled. He had learned submission to the will of God and learned that His greatest treasure was Christ Himself. He alone is the source of all contentment and Paul learned that living a content life meant obeying and submitting to the Source--Jesus Christ.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Bits and pieces from my journal:
"The life that I now live in the flesh"--This phrase implies that I have a responsibility. Christ lives in me, but I was created with a free will to choose how to conduct myself. Do I live this life "by the faith of the Son of God"?
I will be the first to admit that I do not always live by faith. I have been guilty of leaning on my own understanding. Sometimes I fall into the trap of thinking that since Christ lives in me, spiritual growth will just happen over time. But I have been taught about the sovereignty of God along with the responsibility of man.
So how is this fixed? I have to get to the heart of the matter. When I am experiencing a lack of motivation to pursue godliness, I realize that my focus has gotten off of the Cross. My eyes have not been fixed on the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I begin to get busy and discontentment creeps in. My "problems" start getting bigger and bigger and the Cross gets smaller and smaller.
This verse in Philippians describes what living a content life looks like:
Philippians 4:11-13
"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Thoughts on these verses:
Notice here that Paul had to learn to live in this state of contentment. He had to learn to submit to the will of God, which was to give thanks in all things (I Thessalonians 5:18). He had to learn that his sufficiency was from God (2 Corinthians 3:5). He had to learn to avoid covetousness in his conduct (Hebrews 13:5) and lean on God's promise that He would never leave or forsake him.
I Timothy 6:6-8
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content."
Timothy as well as Paul stresses contentment. Look at these three little words in verse 6. "godliness with contentment"--Godliness comes first. We must discipline ourselves to submit and obey God--to be Christlike. Contentment is learned through walking with the Lord. Focusing on the Cross enables us to pursue godliness "with contentment." Timothy says here that a godly life should be a content life, and such a life is of great gain.
Paul states in Philippians 4 that he learned contentment. He was able to learn to be content because he submitted to the will of God and saw all that had been given him by the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.
Here is what I saw:
How was it possible for Paul to have such contentment? Wasn't it because he "lived by the faith of the Son of God"? He had incredible faith. But where did that faith come from? Through Christ who strengthened him. (v. 13) "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." The power of Christ in Paul enboldened him to be content in every circumstance of life.
Paul's faith had to have grown for him to learn to be so content as he went through each of the circumstances of his life. I believe that his faith grew because his eyes were set on the prize. He was looking at Christ and the Cross, not Paul's insufficiencies or seemingly hopeless circumstances, or even countless responsibilities that had not yet been fulfilled. He had learned submission to the will of God and learned that His greatest treasure was Christ Himself. He alone is the source of all contentment and Paul learned that living a content life meant obeying and submitting to the Source--Jesus Christ.
