Be Dissatisfied

By |Published On: June 12, 2018|Categories: 4-Minute Radio Program|

Are you satisfied with your Christian life?

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and most of us would probably say, “Yeah, I’d say I’m… satisfied. For the most part, I’m good with the way things are between me and Jesus.” I think most Christians feel that way. Overall, for the most part, we are satisfied with who we are, where we are, and what we’re doing. As Paul David Tripp says, “We are satisfied with a little bit of biblical literacy. We are satisfied with occasional moments of ministry. We are satisfied with manageable debt that allows us to put a few coins in the plate. We are satisfied with our faithful attendance at Sunday services. We are satisfied with quick morning devotions, and we are satisfied with a little ministry experience. Most of us do not act out of lust, and don’t communicate most of our envy, and we are satisfied with that. When we are disappointed in God, we don’t walk away from him, and we’re satisfied with that, too. We are satisfied to use most of our material resources to make and keep ourselves comfortable. And if our hearts occasionally wander away from the Lord, that’s okay, if it’s only occasionally. And if our thoughts contradict what the Bible says is true, again, were satisfied if it only happens now and then.”

Does any of this resonate with you? Like, I don’t know, you have inside you this little spiritual thermostat setting, and you adjust it where you feel comfortable with yourself and God. And if, if your walk with Christ falls below that setting, you kick it up a bit, spiritually speaking, to the point where you’re satisfied with how you and God are doing? Well, if I’m describing you, then you are the perfect example of Second Corinthians, Chapter 10, verse 12 where the Holy Spirit says: “They measure themselves by themselves, and they compare themselves with themselves and they are not wise.”

The truth is, friend, we are way too satisfied with our spiritual self-satisfaction. And we need to wake up and realize something: God is dissatisfied with us. If that thought makes you feel uneasy or a little ruffled, good, because God is heaven-bent on pursuing a full spiritual transformation in your life. God is relentless in hunting down every self-centered aspect of your character in order to change you. I like the way Paul David Tripp puts it. He says, “Isn’t it wonderful that, in gracious dissatisfaction, God will not relent until every microbe of sin is removed from every cell in our hearts.” Oh friend, none of us has arrived at the point where God wants us. True, we are his children, but we are not his obedient children. Yes, we are citizens of heaven, but sometimes we are lazy citizens. Sure, we are the bride of Christ, but our garments are full of stains and spots. Look, if we really examined our hearts, we’d clearly see how desperately we need to grow. But because we are satisfied, we are resistant to the grace of God that would change us.

“For this very reason,” Second Peter Chapter 1 says, “Make every effort to add to your faith [right now] goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure [that’s the kicker], they will keep you from being “satisfied” in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And that’s God’s word for you today. Thanks for listening today on Joni and Friends.

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