Full Satisfaction

Psalm 16:11  You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.

We are doing a series on the Parables in Sunday's Bible study.  The Lord has so much to teach us and tell us.  He deposits these little gems along on our path for us to discover and take into our hearts. Each one a loving visit, a learning moment.  I love it!

The Parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21 warns of making anything of this world our security and of the emptiness in seeking satisfaction in earthly treasures.  Jesus ends His teaching in the admonishment:  "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."  

In speaking with the Samaritan woman who had come to draw water from Jacob's well, Jesus told her He offered the living, lasting water.  John 4:13-14  Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.  But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.  It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.  

Yesterday's devotional reading from "Jesus Always" by Sarah Young "I want you to draw water from the springs of salvation with Joy.  These wells are unfathomably deep and they are filled to the brim with My blessings."

The world always leaves us wanting more.  Bigger, better, more, more, more.  I think about myself and food (and this is a lesson the Lord has been trying to get me to live out for a long time), it's never enough.  I can have one brownie, but I want 5, I can have a small dish of ice cream, but I want a large one...and so it goes on and on.  The food only satisfying for a few minutes and the "more" kicks in.   While God gives us things to enjoy, pleasures and treasures on earth that please and bless us,( He loves us and loves giving to us), making them our satisfaction and fulfillment will only bring temporary happiness as best, disappointment and disillusionment at worst.  Only He can occupy the place in our heart of deepest joy.  I am struggling to learn this as I look for this life to be easy and problem free.  Hahaha!! Not happening.

Everything about this earth is the same way.   Temporary.  Momentary.  But our relationship with Jesus??  Eternally and temporally, satisfying.  But our hearts need to be open and seeking Him, day by day, minute by minute.  There is a very old book written by Brother Lawrence called "The Practice of the Presence of God."  I am starting it now.  And that is the gist of this life, practice.  Nothing happens overnight, but we work at it.  In our relationship with our God, like any other relationship, we take time, spend time and learn about the other person.  Deepest satisfaction comes from a rich relationship with our Creator and Savior.  It's the way we were designed.

Lord, be my fulfillment.  Fill me, all of us with Your love, Your presence, Your very being that we may know the joy of being with You.  It is all just a foretaste of forever with You in Heaven.  Nothing on this earth can compare to the glory and joy of You.  Help us to grow in our relationship with You. Be our all in all.  Thank You for the many blessings and gifts You give, the provision You bestow, the small treasures You allow us to enjoy.  They are wonderful.  But most importantly, thank You for Jesus our Savior, thank You for loving us and making us Your children.

Work on your relationship with God.

Proverbs 19:23  The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.

Luke 12:13-21  Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”   Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?”  Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”   Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.  He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’  Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.   And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’   “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’   “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”