Wrestling with contentment

Charles Spurgeon once said: “You say, ‘If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.”

These words hit home, as they remind us of how we mistakenly believe that 'more' will always make us feel better. More money. More 'friends on Facebook.' More possessions. More time. More 'likes' on our social media platforms.

The writer of Hebrews had these wise words to offer us: "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

Thought: In what area of contentment are you struggling with at the moment?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

I am grateful - how about you?

"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." - Hebrews 13:7

I am very grateful for those amazing people who modelled Christianity for me over the years. This verse urges us to remember them and then to 'consider' (think on) their lives and finally, to imitate their faith. 

Someone once suggested that the definition of a Saint is "a person in whom Christ lives again." 

In some respects, our Christian role-models have been saints - Christ has lived on in their lives and through their example we have been taught about the ways of Jesus. And for their lives, I am extremely grateful!  

Exercise: Think about one person who has shaped your spiritual life. Give thanks to God for them today.

Philippians 1:3 - Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Wisdom has no expiry date - it remains a gift throughout the generations

Wisdom is something that is timeless. And when we read the Bible, we note that there are thousands of words of wisdom, instruction, good news and grace. The book of Hebrews ends off offering the early believer's wisdom about contentment and money. In my opinion these words are timeless. They have spoken the Truth to countless generations of Christians, and they will continue to speak long after we have gone. 

Hebrews 13:5 - "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:5)

I have left the Old Testament references in this post, because the readers of Hebrews would have known Deuteronomy and Joshua off-by-heart. This challenge was not something new to them, it was just that they were struggling to live it out. The same can be said for us. Knowing something to be wise and true, is one thing - but living it out, is the hard part!

Thought: Are you wrestling with contentment at the moment? How do the quotes from Joshua and Deuteronomy help you?

"Wisdom has no expiry date!"

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Putting things together

As his final words to the first century Hebrews, the writer reminds them that God is the one who can put all things together. This is something we also ought to remember - when it seems that all is lost, we must remember that Christ is the one who can make us whole again. In Him, all things can be made new.

"May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole,
Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus,
    the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,
Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd, up and alive from the dead,
Now put you together, provide you with everything you need to please him,
Make us into what gives him most pleasure, by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.
All glory to Jesus forever and always!" - Hebrews 11:19-21 (The Message)

"You don't need another person, place or thing to make you whole. God already did that. Your job is to know it." - Maya Angelou

Living in Grace

D3LM3

What gives you strength?

In training for the upcoming Comrades I have been finding it interesting learning what runners use to help them gain a little extra vooma for the race. Some people use gels, or Gu's, while others use sports drinks, coke, or certain energy bars. I guess one has to experiment with a whole range of things before we find the right thing for us.

This leads me to the scripture verse from Hebrews 13:9, which states:

"Your strength comes from God's grace, not from ...."

And so as we go about our business today, may we remember that our real strength for the Christian race comes from the GRACE of Jesus. This sustains us and gives us the spiritual vooma we need to complete the journey.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Sacrifice

On this Mandela Day (18th July) let us remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for a better future and for Justice. However, let us also not forget the great Sacrifice of Jesus, who died so that we may have eternal life. The legacy that Jesus leaves for us, reminds us that the small sacrifices we make are in response to His mercy revealed to us.

Hebrews 13:19-21 (The Message)

May God, who puts all things together,
    makes all things whole,
Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus,
    the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,
Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd,
    up and alive from the dead,
Now put you together, provide you
    with everything you need to please him,
Make us into what gives him most pleasure,
    by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.
All glory to Jesus forever and always!

Nelson Mandela - It is in your hands, to make a better world for all who live in it.

Living in Grace
D3LM3