7/31/13

From Bill Dayton.... FINDING TRUE CONTENTMENT


FINDING TRUE CONTENTMENT
In the 23 Psalm, David refers to Jesus as our Good Shepherd. We are the Lord’s beloved sheep (John 10:14), and as such we are to live our spiritual lives totally dependent on Him. In verses 1-3 we learn that as the Lord’s own, He desires us to be completely content and satisfied. David writes” …He leads me beside the still waters.” (vs. 2). In the natural world, any animal is made aware of water lack by thirst. Thirst indicates the need of the body to have its water supply replenished from a source outside itself. Now, just as the physical body has a capacity and need for water, so Scripture points out to us clearly that the human personality, the human soul has a capacity and need for the Spiritual water provided by our Lord that leads to life everlasting. (John 4:14).
When sheep are thirsty they become restless and set out in search of water. If not led to the good water supplies that are pure and clean, they will often end up drinking from polluted pot holes where they pick up parasites and disease. And in precisely the same manner, our Good Shepherd, made it clear that thirsty souls can only be fully satisfied when their great need is fully quenched by drawing on the living water found in Him. Jesus stated in Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they SHALL be filled (satisfied).” At the great feast in Jerusalem He stated boldly: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.” (John 6:35). “To drink” in spiritual terminology simply means to “take in” or “to accept.” This implies that a person assimilates the life of God in Christ to the point where it becomes a part of him. The Word of God is pure (Proverbs 30:5) and fills all our deepest needs.

 Our Lord loves to see His children contented, quiet, and at rest. If we find ourselves becoming restless, anxious or in Spiritual need, He is waiting and watching by the still waters.