Jesus, You are enough! With nothing, I still have everything.
What does it mean for Jesus to be enough?
By all earthly measurements, Jesus is not enough. My physical body cannot survive on only Jesus. I need a house and a vehicle and food on the table. How is Jesus going to feed my family? How then should we understand this statement?
When we look at the culture around us, and sadly oftentimes in the church, satisfaction is measured by the physical, not the spiritual. Satisfaction is measured by having all the toys you want or your favorite meal on the table. Satisfaction becomes very situational and circumstantial, not a constant state of being. And if we're honest, many of us do not feel satisfied very often. When we do, it is not for long. Contentment is a fleeting feeling while simultaneously being a constant focus.
There's a better way.
Contentment does not equal earthly blessing. Contentment is something greater and much more gratifying. Satisfaction can only come when we allow Jesus to be the center of our world and when we strive after Him above everything else.
Jesus can and should satisfy us,
but we often desire His benefits
without actually desiring His presence.
Being a follower of Jesus does not mean you will have everything you desire in this life. It does not mean you will be wildly successful in your occupation. It does not mean you will be able to give thousands of dollars a year to charity. It does not mean you will have no familial strife.
Being a follower of Jesus does mean that we are not defined by what we make, what we've done or will do, how well we love those around us, or by the people we know. Being a follower of Jesus means we are defined by otherworldly grace and love. We are defined by the person and righteousness of Jesus.
The God of the universe became flesh so that He could live a perfect life that led Him to die the death of a criminal on a cross. This death was the perfect sacrifice of a spotless lamb, Jesus, to satisfy the just wrath of God. Jesus took on Himself all of the sins of humankind; past, present, and future; so that our sins would no longer hold us captive. In Christ we are known, predestined, called, justified, and glorified.
Our eternity is secured by the blood of Jesus. This also means our present is secured as well and we do not need to try and earn salvation or grace or love or acceptance. That is given freely to us. All of our desire for acceptance is fulfilled in the person of Jesus.
The God who made everything from His very Word cares more deeply for you than you can imagine. You are loved by and intimately known by the King of all Kings. This alone should give us immense comfort even when we feel we're lacking in this life.
Scripture
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Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Exodus 34:6
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
Also referenced in the following passages (and many more):
Psalm 57:10; 86:5; 86:15; 103:8-13; 111:4; 112:4; 116:5; 138:2; 145:18;
Joel 2:13, Nehemiah 9:17; Jonah 4:2; Numbers 14:17-19; 2 Chronicles 30:9
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
Romans 8:29-30
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
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