I am sure you recognize the song lyrics of our very own Pastor Deb above. I’ve been singing this song over and over these last two weeks. They have brought me so much comfort in times of great difficulty. The Lord never said serving Him would come without difficulty, as a matter of fact He said quite the opposite. As we have been reading in home groups on Wednesday nights, following Him cost some things. While our salvation is free for the taking (as He paid the debt), following him will cost something. Maybe its pride, maybe its comfort, maybe its relationships, the disciples knew better than anyone that following him would cost them everything. When they were baptized and outwardly expressed that they were His followers, it cost them jobs, family, social status, religion, and eventually their earthly life. Yet they knew that whatever the cost was, it was minuscule compared to their relationship in Jesus.
That sounds like a depressing thing to hear! Following Him will be costly? If we feel that way, it’s because we are not looking at it through His eyes. You see, as always the Lord knows what is best for us. He knows what brings life to our spirits and joy to our soul. He knows what makes us fruitful and what helps us grow in His likeness. He knows that trusting him through difficult situations grows our faith. He knows that praying for the person that hurt us instead of retaliating or harboring hurt and pain will strengthen us and heal us. He knows that giving when we really want to get, will stretch us. He knows that being joyful and spreading joy, when we really want to complain will keep us focused on Him. See, it may cost some complaining, it may cost some repentance, some humility, some forgiveness, but OH IS IT WORTH IT!
It is hard for us sometimes, and I say that from plenty of experience. It is hard because even though we read the promises in His Word, we still look for satisfaction in the world. We want our freedom and the world too! But the problem with that thinking is, it’s a contradiction. We do not get our freedom from the things the world offers to satisfy us. Jobs, money, homes, cars, friends, relationships, children, education, and even our own health, these things are wonderful things, but if we don’t find our fulfillment and satisfaction in Jesus, we will never get our fill. He is the only one that truly satisfies. Everything else is temporal and changes with the wind. If our satisfaction rest on those things, then we can rest assured we will find ourselves longing forever for more and more of it. But real satisfaction in Jesus is sure and steady. It is unwavering and dependable. It is a solid foundation and one we can trust fully in. When I find myself beyond frustrated, feeling helpless, and at the end of my rope, I realize often it is because I am seeking satisfaction in something that could never possibly give it to me. When I shift my eyes to the One who can, it changes everything. There are several scriptures that have come to mind as I have prayed and meditated on His Satisfaction. Read them and think about what it means to find real and lasting satisfaction in Christ alone.
