Daniel Crowe

Notice the church of today. We worship unashamed in the buildings we have built for God, but when we get out into the body He has built for us, we quickly retreat, calling worship a song, when in fact it is meant to be a lifestyle.
The Bible gives us an example of this in the form of Peter. Whenever He was with Jesus, he had the boldness to say and do some absurb things, like chopping off an important guy’s ear in front of a few hundred of the best trained soldiers in the world. But when he was distanced from Jesus, he did some equally ashaming things, like denying his Lord three times, in the middle of Jesus’ hardest time.
Like Peter, we tend to do things we’d never believe we’d ever do apart from God. But there is more to Peter’s story that we should see.
After Jesus died, Peter threw in the towel. He told his fellow disciples “I’m going fishing.” If there was ever a case of correct vocation, and incorrect location, this was it! Jesus met Peter beside that lake though, because you see, Jesus is never seperated from our circumstances. He’s always right there with us! Jesus asked Peter three times (which in that culture was a very deep and heartwrenching thing) if he loved Him. And then Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” A simple command see, because God never places on us more than we can bear.
Now, fast forward a few weeks: Peter preaches in Jerusalem, and thousands come to know Christ as Savior. The Jewish officials complained about Peter and the disciples, saying that they filled the entire city with the teaching of Jesus, which was no small feat. The Bible even records that people sat in the streets, hoping Peter’s shadow would touch them.
Peter knew it wasn’t his shadow doing miracles and saving people. Peter had already shown us what happens when he ran the show. Peter couldn’t be this stable with Jesus…and we know that by this time Jesus had ascended into heaven.
See, Peter found Jesus in his heart, and out of that came his lifestyle of worship in which people couldn’t help but be changed. When Peter allowed Jesus to take root, home, and all of his heart, great things happened, and guys, get this: he was married too!
Who do you want to be? The Peter away from Christ, or the Pete whose life couldn’t be explained except through Christ?

Satisfied?

“Is my heart satisfied, with You – my Savior? Is my life to live, for You – my King?”

Webster’s New World Dictionary lists the definition of the word satisfy, as:

“Having the desires fully gratified; made content.”

So when I ask, are you satisfied, you can see what I’m asking. I’m asking, are you content? But I’m not just asking are you content, I’m asking, are you content with your present life?

Please forgive me if I become nosy in this J but most likely, I don’t know you face to face, so you can deal this one out become yourself and God. But, what is the source of joy and satisfaction in your life? I dare you to list off something that is of this earth. And if you still do, I challenge you to look at it in the eyes of eternity. Is it lasting? Is it godly? Is it worthy of Jesus Christ? And still, even when you ask those questions you still will fall short of the ultimate answer – Jesus Christ Himself.

This world looks to so many things to satisfy itself. Sex, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, money – you name it. But does this stuff truly satisfy? I dare you to say yes.

A teacher of mine told a story not long ago of a time when he went to witness at a major rock concert in California back in the 1970’s. He told us that he came across a man who was openly smoking an opium pipe. He tried to witness to the guy, and told him that the only thing he needed was Jesus. All the man would respond, over and over again, was “will it last?”

WILL IT LAST?

I don’t think I have to say more about this point. People addicted to sex, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs constantly rise and fall based on their usage. Smokers must go back to the cigarette to feel good. A person on alcohol must drink again to escape the world, similar to the drug addict who must continually shoot up to get a high. Does this last for them? How much money has been spent on tobacco and alcohol in one person’s lifetime that is really wasted just for a few hours of ‘feeling good?’ Will it last?

THE ALTERNATIVE

One of the names the Bible calls Jesus Christ is our ‘sustainer’ – the one who upholds us. He alone is the one who can satisfy every part of us – if we allow Him to.

Let’s think logically here. I’ll give you two scenarios and you are more than welcome to pick which one you think is best.

Scenario One: A close relative of yours dies. You decide to take your grief to the bar. After multiple drinks, you feel somewhat relieved. After a few more, you forget your pain, go home, and wake up in the morning right back in the same condition you started in. This scenario replays itself.

Scenario Two: A close relative of yours dies. You decide to take your grief to your Lord and Savior – Jesus Christ. You trust His promises to “cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 4v7).” You trust another promise of His, that “all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8v28).” And finally, you also remind yourself, that to be “absent from the body (death) is to present with the Lord in heaven!” – a much greater place than this earth (2 Corinthians 5v8). Based on this knowledge, you know that all things are in God’s hands…that He is taking care of them…and you can joyfully say goodbye to your relative.

Now, practically speaking, which seems to be the logical choice to make here?

DO YOU KNOW HIM?

Maybe you’re reading this and you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Check out www.thekristo.com to read/see more, or email me at christfollower2486@gmail.com

Maybe you’re reading this and you already know Him. Remember to make Him the sole source of your satisfaction. We know its so much better than whatever this world has to offer.

To close, I’ll quote Proverbs 4v23. “Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it come the issues of life.” As Christians, we must be careful what we use to try to satisfy ourselves. We cannot allow Satan to make us think he can offer us something better than what we already have: Jesus Christ. Nothing on earth, no material possession, no hobby, no ideas, not even your closest friend can satisfy you. Jesus alone can. If you have allowed something else to take that place…please put it on the backburner. Let it decrease, allow Jesus to increase, and experience life.