Your Daily Devotional for August 27, 2007

 

August 27,  2007

 

 

Content in God

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry."

 

Colossians 3:1-5

 

 

Benjamin Franklin once said, "Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor." As we learned yesterday, it can sometimes be easy to become discontent with what we have in today's materialistic society. Although everyone around us is telling us to buy the latest thing, God tells us to be content in Him.

 

We also learned that in order to remain content we must thank God for what He has already given us and fix our hearts on Him. Another way we can remain content is by directing our focus heavenward. Our verses today show us that we should seek things that are above. We should not be so consumed with the things of this world that we forsake the things of God. God desires for us to seek Him and to be content in Him.

 

We must also trust God in order to be content. Matthew 6:33-34 says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." It can sometimes be overwhelming to think about the pressure to support a family or to make ends meet, but God tells us that as we seek Him first, He will provide for our needs. Some people trust their instincts or their knowledge to provide for them, but God desires that we trust Him. When we trust Him with our needs, we can be content that He will provide for us.

 

Also, we can be content in God when our lives are yielded to Him. Luke 18:22 says, "Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." In this story, we see that a wealthy young ruler approached Christ to ask Him how he could attain everlasting life. Christ knew this man's heart and saw that he loved the possessions of this life. For this reason, He told him to leave all he owned and follow Christ.

 

Just as in this story, sometimes the possessions we have can hinder us from yielding our lives to Christ. God desires that we would serve Him and follow Him, but many times the things of this world can distract us from serving God. We must not let the things we possess prevent us from serving the Saviour we love. We must yield our lives to Him and be content in Him.

 

Are you more passionate about the things of this world than about serving God? While many people in today's society are passionate about getting the latest thing, we as God's children must be passionate about serving Him and being content in Him. He is all we need in this life! Spend time with God right now, and determine to be content in Him today.

 

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Psalm 120-122 • 1 Corinthians 9

 

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1