SATISFIED?

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36

Years ago the song ‘I Can’t Get No Satisfaction’ by the Rolling Stones kind of sums up the endless pursuit of a life without Jesus Christ. People pursue sex, wealth, drugs, relationships, and a host of other things but never get rid of that empty hole, tempting them with something else… something more for satisfaction.  

Of course even as Christians we can be seduced into this hedonistic worldview which completely negates the complete satisfaction and sufficiency that is found in God through Jesus Christ alone. What that does is make us dualistic in that we try and have one foot in the world’s camp with the other in God’s. This never works. James 4:4 reminds us that “friendship with the world is hostility toward God”.

The recipe of finding our complete satisfaction in the Lord is to pursue Him. Pursue Him with reading and submitting to His word, prayer, meditation, and fellowshipping with His people. The more we pursue God and His holiness the more we will enjoy Him and be completely satisfied in Him. 

Jonathan Edwards once wrote: The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows, but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams, but God is the ocean.

MY WITNESS FOR CHRIST

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Philippians 1:27

It is right that we praise God for gifted men whom He has enabled to eloquently and truthfully preach the Word. To have such men teach us is truly a privilege and one which we need be grateful - but what about our role in preaching and teaching God’s Word? What witness and testimony are the ordinary, not-so-eloquent, like most of us, to be and give? I honestly believe that true words of the gospel and doctrinally clear statements of faith, will never cut it unless they are aligned to a life that says the same. In other words, do our lives portray to others an accurate picture of our God? What do those we mix with learn from us, not only from what we say, but also our daily conduct? 

There is a lot of truth in the adage “actions speak louder than words.” 

The great prince of preachers, C.H. Spurgeon once rightly said: 

A man’s life is always more forcible than his speech. When men take stock of him they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies. If his life and doctrine disagree the mass of onlookers accept his practice and reject his preaching.

ENCOURAGEMENT MINISTRY?

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4

When we think of ministry our minds quickly rush to public and up-front participation. But I ask what about the ministry of encouragement? This is a needful ministry that every single believer should be involved in. To encourage others in the local assembly and those without should be to us a natural outflow of what God in His grace and mercy has gifted us - salvation! But what is this encouragement of others all about? 

It’s certainly not based on the temporary enticements and passing comforts this world offers. Our encouragement to others needs be centered on the truth of Scripture, which points to the all-sufficient Jesus Christ. So, when was the last time you encouraged someone with God’s truth? I like how Wayne Mack challenges us all on this in writing on To Be or Not To Be a Church Member:

“Though some people may seem to be naturally gifted at encouraging and uplifting other people, the Bible makes it clear that we’re all to be encouragers. According to Scripture, encouragement is to be a regular part of our interaction with other people. This necessarily means that we must spend time with other people for the purpose of knowing their needs, their struggles, and how best they may be encouraged.”