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By Hannah Solomon Mesfin (WITHIN Devotional Contributor)
As we close out this year, I am sure most of you, like me, have already begun writing your goals and plans for the upcoming year- writing things that we would like to accomplish, things our hearts are passionately wanting, or even deeply needing to pursue. Perhaps we feel the urgency of these goals and even anxiety surrounding them. As I began to notice these emotions rising up, I began to ask myself where they were stemming from? I could have easily justified it by saying, “I’m just driven,” but the Lord kept tugging at my heart regarding a thought that has been on my mind throughout 2019. It’s a simple word with great implications that I’ve struggled with this year. Something the Lord has been teaching me more and more, day by day. And that is the state of contentment. Like me, I’m sure some of you may battle with what contentment looks like in the life of a believer. Do we just pretend that because we serve a mighty, righteous and loving God that circumstances don’t happen? Absolutely not! To begin to understand contentment, we must first define it. I looked up the word and I came across this definition; being content is a state of peaceful happiness. Now, we know that “happiness” can fluctuate. It comes and goes depending on our external experiences. For this sake, I am going to change the word happiness to joy. Because a state of peacefulness is found in complete joy. Contentment is not something that comes naturally to us. Our flesh fights against it. In fact, the greatest opposition to contentment is sin. If we think about it, sin is sin because of Whom it is against – Christ. Anything in our lives that pushes away contentment, gratitude, peace (all Christ-like characteristics) is simply sin. Sin is an attack upon God’s character and as His children, sin then becomes the barrier between us and the promises of God if we allow it. Paul understood the secret to contentment, which he then was able to receive the promise God had spoken. He writes, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Phil. 4:11-12) So what is this secret Paul talks about? We can find this answer in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” God designed us to operate on trust. From the beginning of creation, mankind’s relationship with the Father solely depended on trust. It wasn’t until sin came into the picture through the fall of Adam and Eve that trust became a foreign language to us. God’s promise to man was that we would be given “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” which will “guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.” BUT this promise is only gained when we first learn to “not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Phil.4:6-7) Being in a state of peaceful joy – contentment-- is found when we are able to recognize moments of fear, moments of resentment, moments of envy, moments of jealousy and of bitterness, and we bring it to the Father in prayer and petition WITH thanksgiving. All these things, and even more things that are not listed, are opposites of a person living in contentment. The seeds of unnecessary fear and resentment in the heart of a Christian is forgetfulness. We are able to walk better in gratitude and contentment when we can remember the things God has done for us and believe in our hearts that He will do the same again. Paul had every reason to believe that God had forsaken him. He could have sat in misery and he could have chosen to live in a state of resentment towards the Lord. Every circumstance around him spoke of a fallen world; instead, Paul spoke of a faithful God. Contentment, then, is not denying that circumstances happen, instead contentment is holding on tightly to God THROUGH our circumstances. In this upcoming year, as we sit to write down the goals and dreams we aspire to achieve, think on what the Lord has done in this past year--what God has faithfully given us even when we are underserving. And hold fast to contentment in the upcoming year, when circumstances seem to go opposite of what we initially envisioned. God wants His children to live a life of freedom. Freedom from resentment and joy through contentment.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. Passages to read/memorize/meditate: Philippians 4:6-9 Timothy 6:6 Romans 8:28 Psalm 37:25 Philippians 4:11-13 Questions to Reflect on:
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By Yodit Kifle Smith
If we were given the choice to pick between something that looked ordinary and simple verses something that sparkled & shined, we would most likely be drawn to the latter. In our nature, we seem to be drawn to the shiny. The pretty. The alluring. Perhaps we can trace it to the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were instructed by God to enjoy everything in the garden except the one tree that He told them not to touch. But Scripture tells us that the tree “looked pleasing to her [Eve’s] eyes” (Genesis 3:6) and so, being deceived by the Serpent, Eve and Adam chose to disobey God’s command. In our fallen humanity, we’ve been programmed to think less of the ordinary and think more of what looks and feels pleasing to the eyes (1 John 2-16). However, throughout the story of God, He’s revealed to us that He has always been for what looks unlikely and ordinary by man’s perspective. His story is one that has time and time again shown His love for the humble and the lowly. He’s always used people who were looked over because they didn’t “look” the part or because their pedigree didn’t give them a seat at the table. In His choosing, He’s always reminded His people that He was the One at work, not man’s intelligence, looks, wisdom or anything in and of themselves (Deuteronomy 8). We see it all throughout the Old Testament: · He chose Moses, a little Hebrew boy who should have been killed but was adopted into a royal family so that he might lead the Israelites out of slavery (Exodus 2). · He chose David, a ruddy shepherd boy who had no experience, right or privilege in man’s eyes, to be King (1 Samuel 16). · He chose Esther, an ordinary girl to become Queen and help save a whole nation (Esther 2). · He chose Ruth, a faithful and loyal daughter-in-law to be a part of Jesus’ lineage through Boaz and reflect the relationship we have with God as our true Kinsman Redeemer (Ruth 2). We see a gracious God who delights in doing incredible feats through ordinary people. In the incarnation we see His same faithful character displayed through how He chose to dwell among us, us ordinary people...a people of ordinary means and unlikely circumstances for the King of Glory to actual reside with us. One might expect the God of all creation to enter seeking prominent recognition, to let the world know that He is God-Almighty, Majestic and worthy to be praised. But that’s not how He revealed Himself. He didn’t need to be recognized as God by man’s standards – shiny, attractive, flashy. People needed to see that they aren’t capable of being reconciled to God without Him working. Humanity needed to know that God is the One at work, not them. He chose to enter into the world in a way that reveals the character trait He’s always been drawn to: humility. He chose Mary and Joseph. They didn’t have merit by our measure that would qualify them to do what God chose for them to do. Even Mary said this of herself when she exalted the Lord through her song, “He has looked on the humble estate of His servant…” (Luke 1:48). In their humility, they obeyed. He then chose to reveal the news of His birth to shepherds. Why not to the rulers of the land? Why not the elite or the intellectual? In that time, shepherds were considered the lowest of the low. They were outside of “normal” society and their occupation wasn’t considered significant. They were dirty, smelly and often illiterate. Yet God chose them to witness and know one of the most significant, life altering truth that will ever be: “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). In this, we see that... · He came for the lowly. “For though the Lord is high, He regards the lowly.” (Psalm 138:6) · He chose the lowly. “God chose what is low and despised in the world.” (1 Corinthians 1: 28) · He loves the lowly. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5) What does this teach us about how we are called to live as people whose God is with them, in them, and for them? First and foremost, He’s called us, ordinary and unlikely people who were once far off but now have been brought near because of Christ (Ephesians 2:13), to bear His Holy and Great name. Not through flashy faith but by humble obedience in the everyday-ness of life. God with us (Immanuel) is an invitation to embrace the ordinary, for our Immanuel came as an ordinary, unimpressive man of lowly stature. Immanuel then is an invitation to never overlook what seems simple or mundane, to never look down upon the lowly. God’s character displayed in how He came invites us to be drawn by humility, walk in humility and always seek humility. It means embracing the reality that NOTHING we have done and nothing we will ever do puts us in a right standing with God. It is entirely Christ’s position with God and His intercession on our behalf that gives us a seat at the table. In a world that makes much of the noticeable, God with us is an open door to make much of the ordinary because God has and continues to make much of it. In this Advent season and in every season, may we rejoice in being able to carry His Great name in the everyday, ordinary days that will carry with it eternal weight. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. Passages to read/memorize/meditate: Genesis 3:6 Psalm 138:6 Luke 2:10-11 1 Corinthians 1:28 1 Peter 5:5 Ephesians 2:13 Questions to Reflect on:
By Laura Hardin (WITHIN Devotional Contributor)
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14) My husband and I recently became members of a church that preaches the gospel every single week with believers and unbelievers in mind. To the believer, the message is typically, “This is the Christ we’ve come to know and believe. Keep believing!” And to the unbeliever, the appeal is to repent, and believe, for Jesus has come and will come again! Whether we are in the Old or New Testament, the emphasis remains the same—Jesus Christ, our utter need for him, and God’s abundant provision for us through him. I remember observing people the first few times we visited. Does this ever get old? Do they ever forget their spiritual lives depend on an abiding faith? Of course they do. It’s been four months now, and I do. And as Christmas approaches and we hear the same songs, the same stories, the same promises of a savior coming to make all things new, I wonder if the good news has grown stale to you. If so, you’re not alone. Because we are human and still have a sinful nature, we are all prone to drifting away from what truly matters. We are prone to pridefully moving on from the truth that both saves and sustains. As much as we want to know God and grow ever more mature in him, we forget that this growth comes as a result of keeping our eyes on Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). And at this time, God beckons us to behold him incarnate, born into a sinful world as a little bundle of holiness, the center of the greatest rescue mission ever to be executed in real life or on the big screen. Repentance is the proper response for anyone struggling to appreciate and celebrate Jesus today. We confess that something is off in our hearts (we do not love or worship him as we ought), For whatever reason, our eyes have not been on Jesus. We have not made much of him. Something else has been vying for our attention, and now, as an act of repentance, we must turn our gaze back to him. So we pray for his help to relish the good news of Christmas, and then put ourselves in position to receive it. One way we might do this is by picking up a Bible, reading a Christmas passage prayerfully, and singing a Christmas carol. As we sing, may we remember these songs are not mere tradition to make a godless people superficially merry. Steeped in the word and ripe with eternal hope, these carols can draw us into jubilant worship. But growth doesn’t happen overnight. Christmas is next week, and keeping the right perspective will still be a struggle for many of us. We will spend the rest of our lives learning to treasure the truth Christmas celebrates. To guard ourselves from being in the same place next year, may we venture to read through the Bible with an eye for God’s redemptive work in history. As we train ourselves to look for Jesus on every page, we’ll begin to see him on every page of our lives as well. Slowly but surely, we’ll appreciate everything God has done to reconcile a sinful people to himself. And as we open our mouths to sing, our hearts will leap with joy, for our King has come and is coming again. "Hail! the heaven-born Prince of peace! Hail! the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die: Born to raise the son of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King!" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. Passages to read/memorize/meditate: Genesis 3:15 Isaiah 9:2,6-7 Luke 2 Isaiah 60:1-5a John 1:1-14 Questions to Reflect on: 1. How does Christmas showcase God’s zeal for his people? 2. How and when am I most tempted to hope in something or someone other than Jesus for my peace, livelihood and joy? 3. What’s one way I can treasure the good news of Christ’s coming today? By Yodit Kifle Smith It’s the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend and most of us can attest to how getting back to a normal routine after a holiday break can make us feel: ironically, if we are to admit it, it’s not all that thankful. It’s perhaps complaining of fatigue or simply the day to day reality that now awaits. But let me encourage you to maintain that thankful disposition we focused on last week. December 1st is the start of Advent Season for the Believer. Advent is the anticipation and expectation of waiting for Our Savior Jesus Christ to be born as we celebrate Christmas. Now, for most of the world waiting for Christmas, it’s often consumed with the thought of buying gifts and celebrating the warm fuzzy feelings of family and friends coming together, putting up the Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, eating good food, and just enjoying the season. However, for the Believer, beyond enjoying those warm fuzzy feelings, it should hold a weightier significance and honor in our hearts as we remember what we are actually celebrating. Advent allows us to do just that: remember the joy and hope of waiting for the coming of the King Jesus. Because if we aren’t intentional, we can get sucked into everything the season isn’t about and miss out on remembering a glorious truth that we have been given. So, as we wait, let’s prepare our hears and remember:
“When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman…” (Galatians 4:4) We will never be able to fully comprehend God’s timing. But we can rest assured that His timing is reflective of His immeasurable love.
We can see this clearly in Matthew 1 where he begins the book with the genealogy of Christ. We often skip this part because we think it’s just a list of names showing us the lineage Christ came from, but those names are portraits of undeserved grace, showing us how God sustained sinful mankind for the purpose of something greater: Jesus Christ. I encourage you to read through the list of names and see how the stories of those people weren’t prim and proper but messy and at times even wicked. YET, God used them. He chose them. He guided them. And in that, He shows us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
Christ entered this world, not announcing His authority, but in a helpless state of a baby that would need the care of his parents. His humility shows us that “He was in the form of God, but didn’t count equality with God to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death…” (Philippians 2:6-8) May we model such humility in our own lives. So you see, we have MANY reasons to STILL be giving thanks! Christmas is the connection to the grand story of God loving us enough to plan for our salvation. As you wait, let this Advent season renew your hope and joy in ALL that we have been given by God, all that we have IN Christ Jesus and all that we are able to do WITH the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. Passages to read/memorize/meditate: Genesis 3:20 2 Samuel 11 Matthew 1 (read the genealogy of Christ) Romans 5:8 Galatians 4:4 Philippians 2:6-8 Questions to Reflect on:
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