DN Rejecting Worldly Ambitions 4/10/2006
- From: Peter G. Chase <pchase1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 01:32:44 -0400
DRAWING NEAR
April 10
Rejecting Worldly Ambitions
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they shall be satisfied" (Matt. 5:6).
Within every man and woman is a hunger and thirst only God can
satisfy. That's why Jesus said, "I am the bread of life; he who comes
to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst"
(John 6:35).
Sadly, most people search for happiness in the wrong places. The
prodigal son in Luke 15 is one example. He turned from God to pursue
sinful pleasures, but soon discovered that sin cannot satisfy a
hungering soul. That's when he returned to his father's house, where
he was given a great feast--a picture of salvation.
The rich fool in Luke 12 thought that amassing possessions was the
key to happiness, saying to himself, "What shall I do, since I have
no place to store my crops? . . . This is what I will do: I will tear
down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my
grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many
goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and
be merry.' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul
is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' So
is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward
God" (vv. 17- 21). Unlike the prodigal son, the rich fool never
turned to God in repentance. Consequently he lost everything.
The rich fool is typical of many people today: they ignore Christ and
attempt to fill the void with worldly pleasures. Most are oblivious
to the eternal peril that awaits them if they don't repent.
Those who love God shun worldliness, pursue righteousness, and know
the satisfaction that comes from pleasing Him. That's the essence of
the Sermon on the Mount: "Seek first His kingdom and His
righteousness; and all [you need] will be added to you" (Matt. 6:33).
Keep that goal uppermost in your mind as you face the challenge of
each new day.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God that He satisfies the deepest desires of your heart.
For Further Study:
Read Daniel 4:28-37.
What was Nebuchadnezzar's sin? How did God punish Him? How did
Nebuchadnezzar respond after being punished?
Drawing Near, Copyright c 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Daniel 4:28-37 (NKJV)
28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal
palace of Babylon.
30 The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have
built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my
majesty?"
31 While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from
heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has
departed from you!
32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be
with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like
oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the
Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He
chooses."
33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar;
he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with
the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and
his nails like birds' claws.
34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to
heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most
High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion
is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to
generation.
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does
according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants
of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have
You done?"
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of
my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and
nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent
majesty was added to me.
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of
heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those
who walk in pride He is able to put down.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@xxxxxxx
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
.
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