“Remember who you are.”
Our pastor at Ada Bible weaves these words into his sermons
about once a month. The application can
be used in a variety of circumstances.
Take, for example, the context of our current series, being satisfied
and content in a material world. If we
remember who we are as God’s chosen people, adopted, purchased by His blood,
and sealed with the Holy Spirit, how can we be unsatisfied? We find joy and wholeness and identity in who
we belong to, not in a new house, expensive car, or the clothes we wear. Material purchases result in short-lived
satisfaction; no material possession can fill a void that God desires to fill
in our lives.
Steph and I have recently discussed this idea of wholeness in
a different context. While we anxiously
await the arrival of our child(ren), we must be whole today. If we’re not whole today and we feel as
though we’re missing something, we’re placing the source of our joy and
wholeness in a child who will be born over 2,000 years after the birth of the
child who is actually the source of joy and wholeness. This doesn’t mean we can’t be excited about
our future child(ren), but if we aren’t content now, surely we won’t be content
as our family grows.
“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.”
--- Philippians
4:12
We highly recommend listening to the current series at Ada
Bible. Jeff Manion eloquently explains
the historical context of what it meant to be adopted, redeemed, and sealed in
Ephesus at the time Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians. Check it out here à Ada Bible Satisfied Series
If you’d rather read Jeff Manion’s book, Satisfied: Discovering
Contentment in a World of Consumption, let us know! We’ll grab one for you!
