The Art of Divine Contentment

Thanks to Pastor Roger Knolton at Edgewood Community Church for the recommendation of the book, "The Art of Divine Contentment" by the puritan Thomas Watson. I was deeply encouraged today by this beautiful portrait of contentment in the life of the Christian.

I infer that outward troubles cannot hinder this blessed contentment; it is a spiritual thing and arises from spiritual grounds, namely the apprehension of God's love. When there is a tempest outside, there can be music within. A bee sting may sting the skin, but it cannot sting to the heart; outward afflictions cannot sting to a Christian's heart, where contentment lies. Thieves may plunder our money and possessions but not this pearl of contentment, unless we are willing to part with it, for it is locked up in the cabinet of the heart. The soul which possesses this rich treasure of contentment is like Noah in the ark, who can sing in the midst of deluge. 

Jesus Has Come to Confound You

The most humbling thing I ever did was plant a church. The early days of planting carried with it a degree of doubt and insecurity that was unparalleled in my previous 15 years as a pastor. Ironically, I hope I never forget those days. The desperation and dependance I felt was beautiful. My inability to bear fruit and need for God's help was ever before me. In this spirit, I was recently humbled and encouraged by Zack Eswine's words from his new book Sensing Jesus.

Those of you searching for something larger, faster, and more significant, who feel that if you could just be somewhere else doing something else as somebody else, then you life would really matter- Jesus has come to confound you. I'm not referring to those who need to flee to somewhere else for safety's sake. I am referring to the discontented who have not yet learned what it means that Jesus is our portion and and that he is enough for us. You have wandered far from home. You cannot glorify God by trying to become him… He may just decide to pick you up and carry you to somewhere sexy in order to undo you! He may call you to courageously prize what is overlooked and mundane among those whose cravings for the next and the now might cause them to soon overlook you for another more hip pastor. Or he may call you to nowhere sexy so that you can learn that you can make a difference in Jesus even if you are somewhere forgotten by the world.

Oh that we would always remain humble, no matter our position or authority… content, no matter our calling or abilities. May Jesus be our portion and hope… our life lived for His glory alone.