Issue 999 – Fulfilling – March 6, 2023
People spend their entire lives looking for that one thing that will fulfill them.
Some seek it in relationships, “If only I were married” or “if only I were single again.” Others in career success, “I will be happy when I get promoted two more levels.”
Some people seek it in wealth, “If I just win the lottery, I can finally be happy,” or fame, “If the world only knew I was a better trumpet player than Louis Armstrong, I’d be content.” Maybe it is in that one goal that only a few will ever achieve “If I can climb that mountain or discover that new planet, I will be fulfilled.”
Not surprisingly, none of those things work. They can provide some sense of momentary satisfaction but not fill the emptiness completely. Even secular counsellors will tell you that those efforts will not fulfill you. Many will say that if you dig deep enough and find the true you, you will be content regardless of circumstances.
Those counsellors almost get it right but still miss the whole picture. When we understand who we truly are, we find ourselves broken rebels against God, who can never save ourselves.
Turning to Christ will bring us forgiveness and restoration with God, but it can still leave people feeling empty and searching for fulfillment. Many Christians chase the same empty promises that the world offers.
We will never find fulfillment this side of glory unless we begin to understand two things. We must understand the greatness of God and the value He places on us.
He is perfect and holy and knows all things. He saw something in us before we were ever born that made us worth dying for. He understood our faults and foibles, our predisposition to wander, and our brokenness, yet He still saved us.
Jesus came willingly out of love. He gave more up than we will ever know to rescue us. Our value doesn’t reside in our merit. It comes from His love for us.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:4-11
We were created by God, saved by the sacrifice of and love of God, to be in a relationship with Him and serve Him.
There are forms of fulfillment in relationships, success and much more, but our ultimate fulfilment is in our creator. It comes in knowing and serving the One True King in a loving and trusting relationship for His glory.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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