PSALM 17:15 – As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.”

THEME OF THE DAY:  WHERE CONTENTMNENT IS FOUND.   So, let’s imagine we are conducting a survey.  It is one question asked of two distinct groups of people – unbelievers and believers.  Here is the question, “Where do you seek contentment in life?”

For the unbeliever, all answers would be grounded in this life and the temporal. That is all they have.  The list includes vocation, achievements, hobbies, human relationships, financial security, good family, educational success, pleasures, entertainment, materialism, and good health.  At the end of the conversation with the unbeliever, it would be a good thing to give them a “pocket version” of the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes with a bookmark that reads, “Vanity, vanity, all is vanity”. Encourage them to listen to King Solomon who tried everything under the sun to bring contentment in his life and nothing delivered.  Sadly, there are many Christians who may be pursuing the same things as the unbeliever to find contentment in life.  The difference is the Christian knows better and will experience the painful process of the Lord’s chastisement bringing upon them the misery of seeking what is only found in the Lord Himself.

Now we ask the same question to the believer – “Where do you seek contentment in life?”  We need to be careful here.  We know it is in Christ alone, and that should be how we answer.  However, that is too vague.  Our contentment is not in serving Christ.  Yes, we find satisfaction in doing so, but what if we become physically unable to do actual service?  If that is where our contentment lies, we will be discontented.  Also, our contentment in Christ is not found in all the many blessings He gives us.  Yes, be thankful, but what if we go into a period of suffering, a visit to the fiery furnace of affliction?  If our comfort is removed, and our contentment is in what the Lord does for us, we will commit the sin of discontent.

The true source of contentment is found in today’s scripture – conformity to the image of the Lord Jesus.  We were created in the image of God, and in salvation, we are renewed and God does this work in us, but it is a work that we contribute too.  The Apostle Paul describes this process to the Philippian believers – Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13).  To work out salvation is to pursue Christ defined by the Fruit of the Spirit – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). And this pursuit of being like Jesus is what brings us contentment.  Is that not what we read in today’s scripture?  It is also what will be completed when we see Jesus – See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure (1 John 3:1-3).

May the Lord help us see that contentment is not found in the pursuits of this world, or even in serving and receiving things from Him.  It is found in our pursuit of becoming like Him, and not only does that bring contentment to us, but will also be the way we influence people the most for Him.

PRAYER: “Father, may I be satisfied in Your Son alone and that in seeking His likeness.”

QUOTE: “We were created to not only know and love God, but to conform to His likeness.”

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

Pastor Jim