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Topic: Satisfied (10/11/04)
TITLE: SATISFACTION GUARANTEED By Phyllis Inniss 10/16/04 |
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“Were you satisfied with your game today, John?” “Sure, dad, I played my best ever.”
“Honey, are you satisfied?”, as she nestled closer to him. “Mmmmmm” was her reply.
What these three questions and answers have in common is the transient experience they convey.. They all deal with matters of the flesh. There is no guarantee of a similar response on the next occasion. Tommy’s mother will have to feed him again and again. He will need sustenance throughout his lifetime. Junior will have to keep winning to keep being the best and the lover will have to keep proving himself and not always being sure of his prowess. John 1:63 says “It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail;”
However, Christ has shown “my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” This spiritual bread guarantees to the believer and follower of Christ a permanent satisfaction and deliverance from want. The hunger and thirst for righteousness fills the soul with joy and peace. Jesus also showed His disciples how to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.” From that day our daily bread is assured us. We are not to worry about our life, what we shall eat or drink or about our body, what we shall put on. If we consider the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap, yet our heavenly Father feeds them.
Paul, the apostle, warns Timothy “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” So even though Junior has played his best game, he needs to compete according to the rules. And in Proverbs 3:5 the wise king warns his son to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.” Likewise, we are expected to behave according to Christ’s rules and not to rely on our own insight. Only then is our satisfaction guaranteed.
The husband or lover knows his own capability, but can he be sure of anything? In his own eyes, he may think he is great, but if he is wise, and Proverbs 3:7 warns us “Be not wise in your own eyes”, he will see that even the most robust can be crippled in an instant. The verse continues “fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (v8) It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” He will also be able to say like the apostle Paul, “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.”
I have come to rely not on my own strength or wisdom, but however trivial a matter may be, I know that God’s guiding hand will put everything in place far better than I or anyone else can. I am always reminded of what the Lord told Paul “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Those words are sufficient to leave me forever satisfied.
Quotes taken from the Revised Standard Version
By Phyllis Inniss