Our True Treasure

Psalm 131:1-3 are some of my favorite verses in the Bible. They speak about our soul - our thoughts, choices and feelings, which is often overlooked in the Christian walk. Popular in our culture today is the concept of the Inner Child. 

Some mental health professionals deny the reality of the Inner Child, but just as many promote the existence of this ego state. In these verses, David confirms the certainty of our soul with an Inner Child.

Prior to our salvation, our Inner Child is often in control of our life. We are swayed by the desires of our flesh, and we do whatever feels good. Once we accept Christ, the old nature is dead in Christ (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:4). We no longer find fulfillment in a sinful lifestyle. God is our exceeding joy (Psalm 43:4, 149:4).

Our soul, including our Inner Child, now finds true contentment, which comes from God alone, regardless of our circumstances. David realized that the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) would get him nowhere in this life. 

David certainly was not arrogant, but he did desire the attention and approval of others, just like the rest of the human race. We want respect and validation from those who mean the most to us. Yet, at times, this can border on pride. David deliberately discarded pride (Psalm 131:1). 

He found peaceful gratification in his relationship with the Lord. In the silences, which David enjoyed with our God, his peace returned to him, even when Saul pursued him. He found pleasure in God as his true treasure (Psalm 16:11).

Prayer:

Father God, You rejoice over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). Help us to find serenity, joy and contentment of soul in You. Remind us that nothing this world offers equals to what You give us through Your mercy and grace. We want to tell the world what you mean to us. Give us daily opportunities to be a friend in order to win a soul to Your love. Take pleasure in us as we hope in Your steadfast love (Psalm 147:11).

Thought for the Day:

Our delight is always in the Lord, because we find our true pleasure and fulfillment in our Lord alone. - Psalm 37:4

True Treasure

 

 

When Jesus asked Paul on the Damascus Road, why Paul was persecuting Him, we know that Jesus was already in heaven. However, whatever is done to even the least of His Saints, is done to Christ Himself (Matthew 25:40). When Paul tortured and killed the Saints of his day, Christ in them felt every pain they suffered. This same thing happens today, when one of God’s Born Again Believers is broken and spilled out for His glory.

God allows tribulation in our life to teach us to glory in them and to allow them to work in us the true treasures of love, endurance and hope (Romans 5:3-4). He also advises us to be joyful in temptations, because they too work the riches of patience into our character. Patience helps to perfect us and helps us to live a satisfied life (James 1:2-4). On the other hand, this world’s riches make us haughty, and we end up trusting in them to our own detriment (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Even if riches do not sidetracked us, Satan may use our pride to convince us that our talents and efforts obtained the stature we enjoy in this life. Rather than clinging to Christ in us, we forget He is there. We attempt to reach perfection by our works (Galatians 3:1-3). Then, we end up bearing no spiritual fruit for the Vine and the Vinedresser has to prune us. Only as we abide in Christ can we bear much fruit for His Kingdom (John 15:4).

God’s ability and anointing reside within us, allowing us to do greater works for His Kingdom than Jesus did. He was one man; yet, in His Body, the church, He can accomplish so much more. With Christ in us, we cease from our labors for God and we enter into His rest (Hebrews 4:10). We bring forth much fruit, because we follow the leading of God’s Spirit through each moment of our day. We trust in and depend on Him to meet all of our needs.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, remind us that we are saved by our faith in You (Ephesians 2:8-10), and we are also perfect by our faith in You. You are our Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8). You start, as well as complete the perfecting work in our life (Colossians 2:10). You give us Your righteousness, peace and joy through Your Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Our true life is found only as a branch grafted into union with You, who are our Vine (John 15:4).

Thought for the Day:

It is impossible to fully abide in Christ at the same time we pursue the riches and carnal appetites of this world.