Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Moths


Dieting is like boot camp. Discipline and results through repetition. Ever eat those packaged WW's meals, or Lean Cusiines? They taste pretty good... for awhile. After a week or so you are reduced to an Israelite in the desert complaining about the manna God keeps sending.

Yes, there were years of complaining from the Israelites as they walked in circles for 40 years. God even sent them quail and they still complained. Have you priced out quail in a fancy restaurant lately? It's a treat for the price, but if you had to eat it everyday you'd get sick of it.

John 6:31(Amplified Bible) - "Our forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as the Scripture says, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat."

They had every need met in the desert. BUT...they WANTED more.

It's easy to point the finger at them and get all self righteous over their audacity.

*Caution! Honesty Check Ahead*

Don't fool yourself. You've done your fair share of whining and complaining.

Considering that it's no longer manna or quail, but Jesus Christ, which of us has the least leg to stand on?

(35) "Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me will never thirst any more (at any time)."

This verse speaks of the potential satiated hunger and thirst of the believer. It's only potential due to our part of accepting or rejecting it.

If we are feeding so sumptuously off of Jesus (alluding to the fact that we believers are continually being fed) then why are we always looking past what we have for more (insert head scratch here)?

Let me make it more plain. If Jesus said we will neither hunger nor thirst anymore, why are so many in a perpetual state of hunger and thirstiness?

He is saying He is our Provider for everything we need and that we will never lack.

In spite of that, people will sometimes THINK that they lack. 

There is a difference between wanting and needing. One can have all of their needs met and still WANT more.

Sometimes the want will supplant the need and create more need. In other words, don't spend the mortgage money on fancy new clothes and expect Jesus to foot the bill. 

This is the secret of successful Christian living. Learning to be satisfied with the Bread of Heaven. If your heart isn't in Jesus, then your perceived treasure will be found in something less satisfying.

Matthew 6:19-21 (Amplified Bible) -  "(19) Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal. (20) But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal; (21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Do you think this doesn't happen today? Ask some of the Wall Street fat cats who greedily accumulated great wealth while never giving a dime to the poor or to the Church. Perhaps even some of you have deteriorated 401K's and pensions that you were relying upon for an easy retirement. Maybe you had more of your eye on your portfolio than you did on Jesus?

Where is that "treasure" today? The "moths" ate it.

I didn't lose anything. Why? Because my investment is in the Kingdom of Heaven. My needs are met and my wants are aligned with what He wants for me with. I'm not bragging, just establishing the fact that it is possible to live as God wants us to. I lost no treasure because my Treasure is Jesus and eternal life.

Successful living is living in Christ. 

Don't trust your "gut". Trust Jesus.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><
www.reallifect.com

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