07/4/2020
Are we satisfied with our current circumstances? How about our day to day lives? As we consider these questions let’s ask ourselves one more... are we satisfied with our faith as it exists today? In his letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote of their meeting his physical needs, but were they meeting his physical needs alone, and would he have been happy with simply receiving money, food, and shelter? Like Paul we can learn to live in grand earthly mansions, or in cardboard boxes, but the sad thing is that we can also become comfortable with a mustard seed of faith when God wants us to have so much more.
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”
Philippians 4:11 ESV
I have spoken before about seeing men in restaurants who were hungry, and without enough money to pay for the meal they had ordered. When I encountered this I would quietly walk up to the cashier, and buy their meal. Sure, I was satisfying their bodily hunger, but other things happened in that exchange... I taught my family, and those around me what it meant to have compassion, and to show mercy, by giving... I brought out the love, and thankfulness, of a desperate soul who more often than not would look into my eyes and say “God bless you! God bless you!”... and personally I would feel my own faith growing within me as I became God’s hands in that moment of caring, and love, to one of His children in need.
““Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
Matthew 5:6 ESV
Paul was receiving more than a few coins in financial support from the Philippians, he was having his faith fed, and they were gaining in faith far more than what the money they provided him could ever bring them... they were growing stronger in their faith. When Jesus sent His disciples out to heal, and witness, they returned excited, filled with joy, and an increase of faith.
“Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!””
Luke 10:9, 17 ESV
In another Bible story about the rich young man it is obvious that he is satisfied with his circumstances and his day to day life, because he would not sell all he had, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow Jesus, no, he enjoyed these earthly comforts too much, but even with all his wealth, and power, there was still an unresolved longing to receive eternal life. I recall this story because it tells us that we can become satisfied with our lives to the point that our satisfaction can deny us the most precious things of all; our love and faith in God. The rich young man didn’t come to Jesus seeking faith, no, he was wishing to purchase something else... eternal life with a good deed.
“And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?””
Matthew 19:16 ESV
Our faith, it is something that we should never grow satisfied with, or be complacent about. We should hunger after it like a starving man, and eat it as though we were famished. Once offered to us we should snatch it up, and stuff it into our mouths as if it would somehow disappear if left for even a moment. God wants us to long for Him in this way, but we don’t have to fear that He will somehow vanish. He provides us with an increase in faith with each new day, and like the manna that fed Israel in the desert it will be the perfect amount, and He will feed it to us every day. The only thing questionable is our desire to receive it. Are we satisfied with where we are in faith, or do we desire more? More of God’s love, God’s care, and His unending attention to our faith? Let’s ask ourselves today... “Will I continue to sell my earthly life to gain in my faith... my spiritual life? Will I exchange what I am accustomed to for the mystery of faith? A walk with Jesus?”
“Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Matthew 19:27-28 ESV
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for the seed of faith you placed within each of us, and for your desire to tend that seed and grow it into a mighty tree. We thank you Lord for allowing us to feed in the deserts of our lives on the manna you faithfully provide us every day, and to gain more than simple nourishment, but a might increase in our faith from it. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who we search after like a famished people, and with a thirst that cannot be quenched except with a cool drink of Christ’s living water from your well of wells. We praise your name for every lesson that you teach us, their impact on our ability to increase in love for you, and the blossoming faith which springs forth from them to bear much fruit. Merciful are you as you take our hand and walk with us through the many trials we face in life, and also in the valley of the shadow of death that each of us must walk. All glory is yours Father, and your grace through Jesus the well of wells, and the refreshment of our faith. We seek you with all our hearts, and pray that you will find your reflection in the eyes of our faith now, and forevermore.
““The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
Matthew 6:22-23 ESV
Rich Forbes