Yesterday and Today and Forever

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 (NASB)

I am, like many of you, going through an uncomfortable time in my life right now. The reality is that I am not promised comfort. None of us are promised comfort. What am I promised? That Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. No matter what is going on around me, I know that Jesus is always with me, taking care of me and loving me.

I heard a really nice sermon from Jerry Vines today, preaching on Hebrews 13:8. He reminded me that Jesus is unchanging, and that although everything around me might change, Jesus never will. Consider the words of Psalm 118:

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 2 Oh let Israel say,
"His lovingkindness is everlasting." 3 Oh let the house of Aaron say,
"His lovingkindness is everlasting." 4 Oh let those who fear the LORD say,
"His lovingkindness is everlasting."
5 From my distress I called upon the LORD;
The LORD answered me and set me in a large place. 6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me? 7 The LORD is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
Than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
Than to trust in princes.

Psalm 118:1-9 (NASB)

What About Contentment?

9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults , with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NASB)

11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11-13 (NASB)

6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

1 Timothy 6:6-9 (NASB)

So what about contentment? Of course it is important to pray and present our requests before the Lord, and ask him for what we need. But I am wondering: when was the last time we told the Lord, "Thank You for what you have given me. I have enough"?

In the passages above, Paul writes about contentment as one who is familiar with it. In the first passage, Paul tells us that he can even be content when he is being treated poorly because he knows that God is at work in him. In the second passage, Paul tells us that his circumstances do not matter. He is able to bear any circumstance and be content through the power of Christ. In the last passage, he tells us that contentment has nothing to do with "stuff"; it has to do with following God.

So what would happen if we woke up tomorrow morning and told God, "Thank You for what You have given me. I am content. I have enough"?