Are You Content with Your Spiritual Condition?

Good morning.

The human being is a highly intelligent and innovative being. Most of us constantly look for something to interest us. We have all kinds of hobbies, sports and entertainment to keep our active minds occupied. In our careers we always aim higher and have lofty ambitions. We are not easily content – in fact we constantly want more.

However, when it comes to a relationship with the Lord, we easily are content with just doing our religious duty. To some of us being religious is a completion of the perfect life. We have our financial fortunes growing, our children have their model lives, our homes are tastefully decorated and our careers are doing well. Being religious just completes the picture of a dream life, since it ensures that we will have a secured eternity as well.

Paul the Apostle, who had been tremendously fruitful in Christ, seemed to have turned this around just the other way. In Philippians 4:12 he stated with regard to his material needs: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

However in Philippians 1:9-11 he wrote: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Does this point to being content in our walk with Christ? No, on the contrary he coupled a growing knowledge and insight to love. How can this be? Isn’t love just doing some service at church or in the community – a practical and giving gesture? It is, but our ultimate goal is to show people who God is. In His prayer for the disciples in John 17:3-4 Jesus said: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”

In our secular lifestyles we can hardly have enough, but how about our relationship with the Lord. Do we have a constant hunger to know Him? There is a difference between knowing about God and knowing Him. When I first met my wife I knew about her. I knew her features, how her voice sounds and after talking with her for a little while I knew some of her interests, her world vision and so on. But it was only after I have walked with her for some years, with us testing one another, that I know her – what turns her on and off, what I should and shouldn’t do in her presence, and so on.

Jesus said that eternal life is to know God. Knowing about God is not sufficient, since James 2:19 tells us: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” Knowing the triune God is to seek Him, spending time with Him, going willingly through the trials and tribulations that He uses to help us discover ourselves, and to deny ourselves so He could become more and us less (John 3:30). Only those who are set apart and know Him will see Him, since without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). In fact, the depth of our current relationship with the Lord will just proceed in heaven.

As we spent time with the Lord, suffering through the tests He puts on our path, we will gain more knowledge of Him who is love and grow in our depth of insight into His ways. It is only when we see ourselves in the light of His glory and love that we will have insight into our real condition, and only then will we be able to work at changing ourselves to be become like Him - pure and blameless, filled with the fruit of righteousness, to the glory and praise of God.

Jesus was without sin, but this was not what pleased His Father. It was because He has brought Him glory on earth by completing the work He gave Him to do (John 17:4).

Thank you, Lord that through Jesus’ sacrifice I am also without sin in your eyes. Help me to know you and complete the work you gave me to do.

Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.

Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.