Learning about Contentment

When a brother said that it is vital that we "keep the main thing the main thing", it reminded me that recently the Lord has opened up for us some understanding - by that, I mean revelation - of a life scripture He gave me long ago. I fretted and strove to understand it, and kept it on my fridg for years, because He told me to study it. I didn't get it. Time went by and I forgot about it. Then in recent years it would come up now and then and I knew I still didn't get it. When He gave us some revelation, He afterward reminded me of the verse. Isn't God cool?

The verse is, "There is great gain in godliness with contentment."

What IS contentment?

After years of learning about Trust, and Him showing me that trust in the Father was lost in the Garden even before they sinned, and the journey BACK to God is relearning Trust, this revelation is about His GRACE and REST. As with all revelation, I'm stuck on how to explain this... Our basis for salvation is not of ourselves, lest any man should boast - and YET - how boastful are many who minister in His Name? How proud are some of the people in church about their saved status? How special are they? Are they more special than anyone else who does not yet KNOW Jesus? No. The great unwashed are every bit as much treasures to the Father, and their sins were carried by our Lord Christ along with all of our own. It's ALL about Grace. We truly can't earn His favor or reward by our busyness and "ministry", because He gave us the wonderful example already in Scripture... Some came to work in the field early in the morning, and He promised them a certain payment for their day's work. Some came later, and He promised them the same payment. Some came at the last hour, and they also received the promised payment. The ones who worked all day long complained that this was unfair, but He reminded them that in the morning, they had agreed with the offer. And He was the boss making the payment, and He said it was fair. (So, who were they to argue?)

IF we learn to trust our Father God as a kind, generous, patient, GOOD God, Who is always FOR us and not ever AGAINST us, then we can shed all fear of coming into His Presence, now or after death. We can learn to sit like Mary did at His feet, and learn from Him, and soak in His lovingkindness TOWARD us. We can "be still and know that He is God." In this is REST. We can REST from our labors and the indictment made on Adam after the fall. What is the chief end of man, but to glorify God and enjoy Him forever? Grace is raining over us at all times.

Grace is the atmosphere we breathe in His Presence. Unmerited forgiveness and kindness and favor. Unmerited. Given by the One Who gives because it is His nature to do so. Given because He knows our frame, that we are dust. Given because He creates us in our mothers' wombs for Himself, for His delight, for His own pleasure, and for His holy purposes. Given because He is the All Wise, and knows the end from the beginning. He knows all that will be, and how He will bring to pass all of His own heart's desires and plans. He knows the plans He has for us, and they are plans for good, not for harm, for blessing and not for calamity. Why, then, do I worry? Because I forget that my God loves me and that He will work all things for my good because I love Him and I am among those called according to His purposes. Why am I sometimes afraid? Because I forget that it is not that my God is like ME (puny and inadequate), but that I am somehow made like HIM and He will not forget me, never leave me, nor forsake me. I am an image bearer of the Most High God, and when I forget that it is all about GRACE, then I do not reflect Him well to the world. When I choose to believe that my works define me, then the world rejects the image I show them. That's good, actually, because that is a false image.

Contentment is resting in our trustworthy God's grace at all times.

May we pray in these last days as the great and dark deception covers the earth, that the Church may shine brighter and brighter, not only with good deeds, but with the love of Jesus Christ raining compassion on every kind of people, extending grace and mercy. May you experience more and more of His grace for yourself.

My next art project is going to be about coming into the atmosphere of Grace and out of the darkness of negative emotions. Keep watching for my soon-coming website with reproductions of my paintings for sale. Pray for me, please, and all the other artists who are seeking to glorify God with their gifts. And may He meet you right where you are and bless you abundantly!