June 2, 2010
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Identity #32 - In Christ I am Satisfied (Jeremiah 31:14)
Most of society thrives upon materialism and the "need for more," whether it is something simple like the desire to buy the latest product, eat another good meal, or to watch another movie... or it's something deep like the need for more alcohol, drugs, or a way to fulfill sexual desires. In the moment of achieving their desires, most people would say they are satisfied. But shortly after the thrill passes, the emptiness sets back in and there is need again to satisfy oneself. Often times what once satisfied us before is no longer good enough, so we search for something bigger, better, or more intense. This is how addiction starts. Pornography, drugs, alcohol, money, and other outlets are never the answer. There might be temporary satisfaction, but there is always a need for more. They don't satisfy.
Jesus told the woman at the well, "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again" (John 4:14). The apostle Paul, a man who had endured beatings, whippings, stoning, prison, and even ship wrecks wrote, "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content" (Philippians 4:11). He no longer found his emotions based upon the highs and lows of life, but rather on the constant love, joy, and strength of God. In Christ, we are truly satisfied.
This identity is critical to claim when temptation tries to creep in. Everything that tempts us on earth will be absent in heaven. Why? Because they don't fully satisfy. Only a relationship with God can truly satisfy us. As we set our sights on Him and on the things of heaven, the temptations we face gradually lose their allure. Our minds become renewed and no longer find their fulfillment in the things of this world. Our satisfaction is found in God. In Christ, we are truly satisfied.
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