Solomon tells us that “a happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing” (Proverbs 17:22, AMP ). God undoubtedly has a sense of humor; we need only look at some of the animals He created (it’s hard not to smile at the sight of a hippo, a monkey, or a puppy). Or think of some of the married couples you know: don’t you think God was smiling at the wedding as He looked ahead to the interaction of the wildly different personalities that will be living together?
How many of us are expecting Jesus Christ to quench our thirst when we should be satisfying Him! We should be pouring out our lives, investing our total beings, not drawing on Him to satisfy us.
I am challenged by this statement from Oswald Chambers’ Utmost devotional for today. It is such an easy thing to slip into a mindset that privileges service over sacrifice, as Chambers says here:
The goal of the call of God is His satisfaction, not simply that we should do something for Him. We are not sent to do battle for God, but to be used by God in His battles.
Father, my greatest desire today is to honor You, to be with You, to live for You and not just serve You. Help me, Holy Spirit, never to confuse service with surrender, righteousness with relationship, doing with loving. I know, Father, that because I love You and because You love me, service, righteousness, and doing will flow naturally from You through me.
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Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.