Why do we keep harping on Jesus Christ as relating to contentment?

When He said, “It is finished” He was verbalizing what was from the beginning and what was the end, but more importantly what was between. He had lived His life in full obedience to the law, which no one else could do, and according to the prophecies, He had submitted His life as the sacrifice the Father required.

In the end He had prepared and was leaving for His people the means for the abundant life He promised His disciples. Those who are “in Christ” ~ born again to a living hope by His resurrection (1 Peter 1:3) have this eternal hope that outweighs anything the world has to offer. This life and hope glories in, and is supplied by, the very life of Christ, Himself.

He set up His Spirit, His mind, His words, and His life to be the center of our lives (John 6:63). To veer from Him is to leave what He has prepared for us. To live for us and to give His life for us was not just a flippant desire that He had, hoping that some would believe and consult His teaching. No. His life, death and resurrection were carried through to accomplish all that was planned before the foundation of the world for us.

To have a little of Jesus on the side is to negate His suffering and sacrifice for us.

To consult Him only when things are rough in this life is to live on crumbs from the Master’s table.

He has promised to be all things to His people ~ not to the world ~ but to His people.
He died to sanctify us in Himself (John 17:19; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 2:11).

When we say, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” we are echoing His truth and our contentment in Him. We want nothing but what He wants for us.

What Else Do We Need?
God our Father has provided all things in Christ for His people (Romans 8:32; 2 Peter 1:3). As the Galatians were tempted to be circumcised in addition to faith in Christ, so many want to add Christ to what they have already. Some want to add to Christ, when Christ is enough for this life and the next.

We do not need practices from other religions. Similar to Yoga, Transcendental Meditation was something I did years ago. It was very effective for all I wanted it to do, but Christ soon won out. TM had to go; I did not want to be my own god.

There are many religions (on which to base our lives). Christ is not a religion, but a living person. His people do not worship Him in a manger or on a cross. That is all done, “finished” ~ ended. He now sits at the right hand of God the Father, ruling and reigning, with all authority and power ~ for what purpose?

He is our High Priest, interceding, intervening for us, supplying all the blessings and delights that are ours in Him. He is our Prophet, through His Spirit and His written Word to direct us.

He is our King, ruling, hearing and seeing our trials and struggles through the wilderness of this life. We have His promised power and presence with us, so that we can rejoice in Him always, no matter the circumstances.

When Morning Gilds the Skies is a German hymn written in 1800 that still speaks of our life in Christ today. May Jesus Christ be praised is resounded through all of this life into the next. (Not finding a suitable video, the words suffice to show how we are centered in Christ.)

When morning gilds the skies,
my heart awaking cries
May Jesus Christ be praised.

Alike at work and prayer to Jesus I repair,
May Jesus Christ be praised.

When sleep her balm denies,
my silent spirit sighs;
May Jesus Christ be praised.

When evil thoughts molest,
with this I shield my breasts;
May Jesus Christ be praised.

Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find;
May Jesus Christ be praised.

Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this.
May Jesus Christ be praised.

Dear Father bring us as your people, Christ’s people, to see, know, love, obey and rejoice in you today. Let the world see Christ in us. In Jesus’ name, I pray.

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