Transcript of Midweek Meditations podcast episode aired on Wednesday, 29th April 2020.
I want to kick off with a question. Are you satisfied with life? Like, really satisfied? I’m talking about all life, not the separate boxes of life. Total satisfaction in how every part makes up life.
Me? I’m not satisfied with life. Even though I’m not in need, I’m not satisfied with my financial security. Even though I love my work and ministry, I’m not satisfied with my current job. Even though my kids are relatively good, I’m not satisfied with my parenting. Why? Because these are some the things I measure the worth of my life.
What are those things for you? Your relationships? Studies? Professional development? Career path? Health? Even spiritual health and relationship with God? The list can go on and on. We build our lives on these perishable and temporary things. And they will never meet or give us the fulfilment we seek.
Christian, you can find satisfaction, fulfilment, identity, not in the perishable and temporary things of this world. No, you can find them in the imperishable and eternal things of God. Peter writes:
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV)
That’s so good! We’re redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Wait…what’s redemption got to do with life satisfaction? Simply this, since we’re redeemed by the blood of Jesus, there’s a shift in where we find our satisfaction.
Living for an imperishable treasure
See…we don’t need to find satisfaction in “perishable things such as silver or gold” or material possession. We can find satisfaction in the imperishable treasure of life found in Jesus. (Go check out last week’s episode on this.)
We pursue the perishable, material things of life, for what? We worry about what we’re going to eat. We worry about what we’re going to wear. We worry about how we’re going to get through the next week. We worry about how we’re going to provide for our family. We worry about these things.
Jesus says:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
Matthew 6:25 (NIV)
Before this, Jesus teaches people to store up treasures in heaven. He’s saying, you’ve got this treasure in heaven, this imperishable treasure. Don’t worry about the details of life. Don’t worry about what you’ll eat or drink. Don’t worry about your body. Don’t worry about what you’ll wear.
Now, don’t get this wrong, this doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy life, it just means there’s a shift in where we find satisfaction. I love the words of the Teacher in Ecclesiastes:
A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25
The Teacher says we can find satisfaction and enjoyment “in [our] own toil” when we realise it comes from God. Without understanding this, without God, we’ll keep worrying about the details of life. Jesus reminds us:
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them, but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:32-34
Living in the way of Jesus
The early Christians were knows as followers of “The Way.” That is, the way of Jesus. This isn’t some “empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors.” It’s not your parents’ life opinions, as much as they love you. This isn’t the advice of some self-help book. This isn’t the mantras of a religious or spiritual guru. This isn’t a set of principles by a prominent life coach.
No, this is life given to us by the Son of God, the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus redeemed by his precious blood. We can find satisfaction in Jesus, in the imperishable treasure of life he gives us and live. This is a full and rich way of life found in Jesus.
When you live in the way of Jesus, you can surrender the worry and pressures of life to him. Walk in the way of Jesus where there is peace, knowing that you no longer need to earn your way through life. Rest in the way of Jesus, knowing that you no longer need to strive for meaning and purpose. Live in the way of Jesus and show the world around you there is a better way.
Let’s pray.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you redeemed us by the blood of Jesus, thank you. Lord Jesus, you show us a new way of life, not an empty way of life, but a full one. You redeem us by shedding your blood. Holy Spirit, you fill us the assurance and peace. Thank you we’re no longer bound by an old way of life, but given a new way of life in Jesus. Help us to trust in Jesus’ completed work on the Cross and live in the new way of life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
