Scripture

Whom have I in heaven but you? You are all I want! No one on earth means as much to me as You.

~Psalm 73:25, TPT

Quote

Our highest desire and our greatest need is to love Jesus with all our heart.

~Megan Hill

Can a follower of Christ be content and discontent at the same time? You see it in Paul as he writes to the Philippians from a jail cell…For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Paul is not unhappy with his lot in this life {in jail}, he is not complaining but he does long for heaven and like Abraham, he knows this world is not his home. In one respect, we believers have a restless discontent and we long for heaven and the actual presence of Christ. I know I love Jesus but my greatest desire and deepest need is to love Him more.

In Psalm 23 David said, “The LORD is my Shepherd, He is all I want.” He expresses the same idea in Psalm 73. Jesus is all I want and all I need. The Palestinian shepherd was usually one man, such as David, who embodied all the sheep needs. The shepherd would guide them to green pastures, lead them to water, protect them from predators, heal them when they were hurt, and find them when they went astray. The shepherd was one person who took care of all their needs. Jesus is such a Shepherd. He can take care of out sins. He can give us our daily bread. He leads and guides and most of all, He enables us to be rightly related to the Father. B.B. McKinney wrote a song many years ago entitled SATISFIED WITH JESUS…”I am satisfied with Jesus. He has done so much for me. He has suffered to redeem me; He has died to set me free.” The perfect balance is to be satisfied with Jesus but dissatisfied with a world in rebellion against Him, and to be content with His grace and discontent with our sin and failure.

Extra

Hopefully a day in the study; but we never know what a day will bring. Today’s thought, at least the title and quote come from Megan Hill’s 31 day devotional on CONTENTMENT. I did not see a web address but it published by the BIBLICAL COUNSELING COALITION. It is definitely Reform but has some very good devotions. You could probably find it by googling her name.

Joe David and I were going to see Ken this morning but I canceled the trip last night due to fatigue. I didn’t think I was going to make the mid-week service last night but got to feeling better once I got there. I over did it Tuesday working in the garden and burning brush. Bill texted last night. Ken had gotten better but then starting have severe abdominal pain and they had to put the stomach tube back in again. Pray for Ken.

I hope you have a good day and thanks for reading the blog.