The Gospel of Satisfaction

via TJC

“Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”

2 Corinthians 1:9

A few weeks ago, I embarked on a mission trip in Cote D’ivoire, West Africa. Our goal was to train and assist a group of local pastors in evangelism to truck drivers waiting for the arrival of goods at the local ports.

Upon arrival, I was immediately struck by the immense poverty. There were hundreds and hundreds of men and young boys camping on the ground under their 18-wheelers, scrounging for food, using the bathroom in open sewer troughs, often for weeks at a time. The conditions of the pastors’ homes in the cities were not much better. Several of them had been without running water for over a month.

You would expect them to be in extreme distress, but I was shocked to realize, by-and-large, they were all much happier and more at peace than I was! To them, they are not burdened by the crushing greed, consumerism, and comparison to others that we simply are accustomed to at home. I was bringing them a gospel of satisfaction and peace that I myself was not fully grasping the joy of. They needed the Gospel, but they taught me a lesson.

How much of our lives is spent pursuing satisfaction, fulfillment, and security in things outside of God? How often in our day do we place our faith in the outcome of a business transaction? or a wife or child acting the way we want them to? And how much greater is the invitation of the follower of Jesus to “be content in every circumstance” (Philippians 4:11).

Daily Battle Order:

Paul felt the “sentence of death” for the sake of the Gospel. What outer satisfactions are getting in the way of you having that kind of commitment?

We have accepted a gift of eternal life after death, but remember to not neglect the peace and joy that is available to us TODAY. We can truly rely on nothing for our satisfaction outside of Jesus.