Alternate Plans
Bible Order: Exod 21–23
Chronological Order: Gen 32–34

 

Overflowing And Satisfied

Matthew 15:29–16:12

Is Jesus sufficient?  What I mean by that is to ask is He able to meet your needs?  Now I’m sure you believe He is able to meet your spiritual and eternal needs but what about your mental, emotional, and physical needs today? You may intellectually believe that He is capable of meeting these needs as well but I wonder if deep down you really believe it with all that you are.  Brothers, I’m not suggesting I’m holier than thou.  There are times when my behavior shows that I still doubt God’s provision and sufficiency.  I believe He is sufficient intellectually but when I worry about my wellbeing or my future I am really showing my doubt.

In today’s reading Jesus once again feeds a multitude – this time it is four thousand people.  Jesus took seven loaves and a few small fish and not only fed all of these people but when the scraps were taken up there were seven baskets full of leftovers – more than what He started with.  Jesus is not only capable of meeting our needs but far exceeding them.  Why were there leftovers?  There were leftovers because everyone ate their fill and they were satisfied and Jesus’ provision was more than enough.  Can you imagine feeling satisfied in every way?  I’ve always loved the following verse:

John 10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

When I read that verse I get a sense that Jesus isn’t simply talking about eternal life though that is certainly part of it.  No, I feel strongly that Jesus is talking about all of existence; He wants us to not only get by in life but to have an abundant life.  Now I have had my times of living on the mountaintop.  I have had times when I felt truly close to God and I want to tell you my life never felt so complete or full as during those times.  I was content.  I was joyful.  I was satisfied. Once there, why didn’t I remain there?  Well that’s due to the other part of that verse concerning the thief.  You see Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy.  He seeks to steal from us what Christ came to give us.

How does Satan accomplish such a theft?  He does this by causing us to search for the wrong things to meet our needs.  We seek financial security.  We seek a nicer job, or house, or spouse.  We seek nicer things.  We seek money, food, cars, sex, sports, booze, drugs, and on and on.  On some level we think each of these things will make us happy and yet after acquiring these things we feel even emptier.  We just can’t seem to be satisfied.

When I felt satisfied in my closeness with God I sought after nothing more than His presence and I was satisfied.  My needs were met.  Perhaps another verse comes to your mind as I say this.

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

We read that verse not all that long ago.  In context Jesus was speaking about this very issue of God’s sufficiency.  Brothers, if all I ever did was focus on all the things that I didn’t have that the world values, if I only focused on my hurts and fears and wants, I would be living the life Satan wants me to have.  Fortunately my eyes have been opened.  God has blessed me incredibly and I know it.  I’m living a fairy tale.  I’m living a happily ever after ending. My cup sure does overflow.  With all my blessings there is only one bit of it worth anything and it is that which flows from a close walk with my God, my Savior, my King.  He is sufficient and I am satisfied.  I hope you are too.

Have a blessed day!

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Bill

Dying to self, living to serve!

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