PSALM 73:25 – Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.”
Quick, pop spiritual quiz. Two questions only. No time to think it over. Respond immediately to this question, “What is our supreme goal in the Christian life?” and then this one, “How is the supreme goal in the Christian life measured in our daily lives?”
The answer to the first question is found in the Great Commandment given by our Lord Jesus – But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:34-37). The whole of the Christian life is learning to love God with all of our being. This applies to our understanding of salvation. God’s redemptive work in people is Him forming a forever family of love – first for Him, and then His people. Perhaps our churches need to think about this more. Jesus made it clear people, all people, will know we are His by our love for one another (John 13:34-35). Doctrine? Yes, it matters but only if doctrine inflames our hearts with love for our God that is manifested in love for His people, all His people.
What about the second question in our little quiz – “How is the supreme goal in the Christian life measured in our daily lives?” This question is answered in today’s scripture. Go back to the beginning of today’s nugget and slowly read the scripture. Maybe even aloud. Is this not an amazing declaration by the Psalmist? He arrived to the point in his relationship with God that he was satisfied alone with God, not what God gave him, or did for him, but with God Himself. I found this staggering for two reasons.
First, God knows the heart of the Psalmist. Humans can say one thing but deep in their heart hide true feelings and no one would know the difference. Not with God. He knows the heart AND the words from the heart AND the life lived from the heart. The second staggering truth is that a human being saved by grace would be able to arrive in life to say what the Psalmist says. And he is saying, “Discontent, worldly pursuits and pleasures, and anything else seeking to replace the Lord as my all in all has no place in my life.” God was his everything. And he was confident of such a truth that he told God Himself!
Well? Now the uncomfortable part. I hope not, but it is possible. Are we where the Psalmist finds himself? Are we able to say what he says to God, “You are my everything and I need nor want anything or anyone in this world besides you?” That, my friends, will be the measurement of the depth of our love for God.
If we are not where Asaph the Psalmist is, don’t despair. He didn’t get there overnight. Read the entire Psalm. We may start getting where he is by asking God to create in us the desire and pursuit to be living the truth, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you!” and God knows it is true!
PRAYER: “Father, deepen within me a passionate desire for You, not what You give me or do for me, but You.”
QUOTE: “The supreme goal in the Christian life is God Himself, not His benefits, but Him alone.”