Content in the Lord. 2

There is a beautiful picture of content in Lord is in 2 Samuel 19:24-30

I want you to imagine yourself as Saul’s grandson and David as Jesus.

Now Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, arrived from Jerusalem to meet the king. He had not washed his feet or clothes nor trimmed his beard since the day the king left Jerusalem. “Why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?” the king asked him.

Mephibosheth replied, “my lord the king, my servant Ziba deceived me. I told him, ‘Saddle my donkey so that I can go with the king.’ For as you know I am crippled. Ziba has slandered me by saying that I refuse to come. But I know that you are like an angel of God, so do what you think is best. All my relatives and I could expect only death from you, my lord, but instead you have honored me among those who eat at your own table! So how can I complain?”

“All right,” David replied. “My decision is that you and Ziba will divide your land equally between you.”

“Give him all of it,” Mephibosheth said. “I am content just to have you back again, my lord!”

This body of ours can to make us a spiritual crippled person at times and we can be overwhelmed and loose faith by injustices and sinful actions. We can be deceived by what we know, see, understand or -is suggested but once we see our failure and how we have been deceived, Jesus knowing those “human” conditions himself allows us to come and eat at his table with our submission to him.

Knowing this grace, mercy and love of the Lord -we see nothing satisfies us but the ways of the Lord and because of this gracious kindness we are willing to give it all away and put nothing in front of Him. Not physically, financially, mentally or spiritually.

We see and hear people who have everything and yet they are not content or satisfied. They maybe even very gifted but not content.

We can fill our lives with all the things this world offers including so-called “Christian” things and still not be satisfied. The Spirit has to be active within us- “we have to let go and let God” some would say. But in reality what is that? That is surrendering to God, allowing God’s Spirit to work, which brings His contentment back into our lives.

God sustains our physical needs and wants but more importantly he needs to sustain our spiritual needs as well. He can’t do that if we are filling our spiritual needs with needs -that may satisfy the flesh BUT not the soul.

We often try to fulfill our spiritual needs in other ways such as possessions, activities, success, gifts, and ways that make us feel important or good about ourselves but those things never truly satisfy.

But when God fulfills our spiritual needs -those things fall to the side and impresses upon us not a notion of God but the reality of God.

Reality of God is a lot different then a notion of God. If you know there is a God that you can know and trust -who cares and loves you more then you can comprehend that is contentment in the Lord

He is your Father that he wants to pick you up and put you on his shoulders and show you how important you are to him… he shows you that you are his son and you are his daughter.

Contentment is living in his love not the noise of our thoughts, our ideals, or our own understandings. Contentment is that quiet peace of gratitude, which holds harmony and humility in both of its hands.

It’s a mind and heart upon God, which brings about stillness and allows God’s Spirit to come and work without personal feelings, agendas, interruption and distraction.

I know this sounds all well and good but do we really take it to heart -for deep within our foundation is this truth that wants to live out in us, an everlasting hope that wants to rise within our shell/ vessel to shine.

The Spirit of God will come forth in your contentment in him- not yourself or others or things.

“For God has not given us a Spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love and self-discipline.”

It’s not about you or them but Him. You are a city on a hill, a lighthouse, a lamp but in order for you to light up you must find contentment in Him. There is where the bright gleam of dawn starts and continues to shine. There is where the salt keeps its salty taste.

Why does God say, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” Matthew 22:37

Is it for his benefit or our benefit? It is for our benefit.

Christians: You want God to work within you and spill over – simply ask for his Holy Spirit come and make his word to come alive in your life. He does not look upon one person more highly then the next.

Quietly come knowing the condition and record he had against you for your sins is gone because of Jesus Christ and now he allows you to come sit at his table. Quietly come in your heart knowing your Father eagerly waits to gather his children up in his arms.

Find contentment in Him first knowing it brings harmony and humility to your soul.

The Apostle Paul found in the contentment of God, in the roots that go deep within Christ – God’s power work best when we place our Spiritual needs in God’s hands.

Paul having a spiritual weakness that he wanted the Lord to take away is quoted as saying "Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

It’s not about us or the gifts or the abilities we might have or receive – don’t put too much emphasis on these things instead of God or we will lose the contentment God gives and not hear what God want us to say and do in His Spirit.

We are nothing but eternal souls dressed in imperfectness and dust yet God call us to be his children- in the humble knowing of this wonderful truth God’s power works best.

Contentment is God does not stifle or disrupt the Spirit of God within us. Contentment in God brings about purity in our thinking and doing.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

See... we can have a form of godliness but still turn away from God and turn to other things to try to satisfy our needs. This isn’t just idolatry but denies God’s power from working in our lives.

We can use all the catch phrases and stock and trade verses that so called “Christians” use but not truly be empowered by the Spirit. The Spirit isn’t just supposed to “exist” in us but HE is supposed to “LIVE” through us the Christian soul.

Godliness with contentment in the Lord is great gain. Think about this when you can.