Find the Strength of Jesus in You. (vs.13)
What an incredible statement: “I can do all things through Christ…” This well-known verse is many times taken out of context or stretched to imply things that it is not truly dealing with.
The doing of “all things” is not accomplished by your own power, intellect, ability, or willpower. It is accomplished by the power of God.
Being content is a choice founded upon the strength of Jesus. Many people are in search of contentment but may not even see that the underlying drive in their life is the need for contentment. They may turn to a relationship in search of being content or satisfied. They may turn to drugs, vaping, alcohol, pornography, or some other addiction in search of fulfillment.
What happens is the relationship, the addiction, or the perceived “need” then becomes a controlling factor in their life. Instead of finding contentment, they find themselves enslaved to the “need” for more of their “medicine” or, in reality, poison.
Christianity Today, in their March 2019 magazine, featured the testimony of a former NFL player named Miles McPherson who played for the San Diego Chargers from 1982-1985. As he tells his story, he had everything a person could want: a well-paying job, a dream come true to play professional sports, the high life of an elite few in the world, playing in the NFL. But something was still missing in his life.
At a party with many veteran players, the men he looked up to as a child, he was offered drugs. He said about that experience: “The cocaine that I consumed that night took me by the lapels and forced me into submission. Soon enough I was completely under it’s control.”
Miles knew several Christians on the team, and they were vocal about their faith and about the power of Jesus to set people free from their sin and addictions. One morning, after a day and night of drugs, no sleep, and a complete inability to say “no” of his own power to the drugs, he realized that it was Jesus Who had the power for the “no.” That morning, in desperation he prayed to Jesus for salvation and asked God to deliver him from the power of the drugs. And God did.
Something changed in him that day. From that point on, he did not take any more cocaine or other drugs. God changed him. In the power of Jesus’ name, the addiction was gone. Powerful story.
Instead of searching for contentment in drugs, relationships, the workplace, or some other aspect of life, it is possible to find contentment in Jesus.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” All things include contentment. It includes the power to overcome addictions and to see life in a new “God Dimension.” Instead of relying on your own power to be a winner, rely on the Lord Jesus.
The Apostle Paul had God’s power in his life to find contentment: in the court house, in the jail house, in a crowded ship, in a church, and in a home. He found contentment when he was hungry and thirsty as well as when he was full and well-hydrated. In poor health and in good health, he was happy in Jesus. With no money or some money, he was content in the name of Jesus.
Ask the Lord for His power to help you find contentment in the midst of your present situation. With His power, you can have the same life but see it in a whole new way. God’s power can give a “God Dimension” to you.
Please read on to PART 5 of In Search of Contentment…
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