Being Content

June 24, 2026

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
-Phil. 4:10-13 (NIV)

Lately I’m thinking about a phone conversation I had with someone, and then as of late I’m thinking about a lunch I had with another person.  Both people shared great words of wisdom that I think many of us need to meditate on more.  With my phone conversation this friend of mine said, “David, when we stop focusing on the cross is when we let a lot of problems with people get to us.”  I believe these words echo Hebrews 12:2 that says, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

During my lunch conversation with another friend this person said, “Our home is not of this world” echoing words from Phil. 3:20 that says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…”  Now when I reflect on both of these passages, it leads me to the thought of being content in Phil 4:10-13.

In any circumstance, whether in plenty or in less, do you feel content or do you feel something is missing?  Perhaps you felt you’ve been wronged.  Perhaps you felt you feel entitled to something more that wasn’t given to you.  Perhaps you felt you were unfairly treated.  In general, perhaps you felt you wanted to experience something more out of life and were not given the opportunity.  Or perhaps you felt different seasons in life where you had plenty of great, positive and abundance moments.  Maybe you received a job offer that pays significantly more than you had in the past.  Maybe you’ve surrounded yourself with great, caring and loving people around you as a support group or network of friends you’ve never had before.  Maybe you felt you’ve overcome a health challenge and now it’s behind you.

In moments of great lacking and distress or moments of great overcoming and gain, know that our eternal home is not in this world and everything encountered here is temporal, and that in any experience take it to the cross such that our focus is on what Jesus Christ endured on the cross granting us limitless victory in life.  For Paul, he rejoiced greatly in the Lord no matter what the season.  And admittedly that’s hard to do.  When difficult situations arise, we tend to fixate on the problem and not the One that fixes all problems and that One is Jesus!  In all life’s seasons we need to focus on Jesus and his work on the cross.  Since Jesus is God, we need to be content with Jesus’ care, Jesus’ protection, Jesus’ sovereignty, Jesus’ love for us, Jesus’ direction, Jesus’ promptings, Jesus’ blessings, and Jesus’ orchestrated allowing.  And this can only be done ironically with the power and support of Jesus – otherwise it’s too easy to be swallowed up by losses, conflicts, sufferings and misunderstandings.  To God be the glory in all things.

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My Identity

June 17, 2026

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
-1 John 3:1-3 (NIV)

Do you realize how precious you are to God?  Sometimes we overlook or don’t emphasize the weight of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  Sometimes we don’t reflect enough on just exactly what God did for us.  Jesus gave himself up as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Eph. 5:2).  Because Jesus became the once and for all fragrant offering, this means God the Father was satisfied with Jesus’ death on the cross.  To understand this last statement, we must realize he alone was perfect and worthy to be the forever substitutionary atonement to satisfy the wrath of God (Rom. 5:8-9).  And by doing so, we as believers are now called children of God (1 Jn. 3:1).  And that changes everything!

The fact of the matter is there is no higher calling, no higher title, no higher identity than being declared a son or daughter of God the Father.  And to be clear, this distinction is not given to everyone despite popular opinion by many as Jesus himself called out to some people saying, “You belong to your father, the devil….” (Jn. 8:44).  Above all else know that you are cherished and beloved by God the Father.  Though the world does not know us (1 Jn. 3:1).  You are known by God and you are beloved by God.  And one day this world will go away, and one day we will breathe our last breaths, and it may not make complete sense to us now (1 Jn 3:2), but surely one day we as believers will realize why God chose us and chose to love us.  Actually, I can tell you enough of a reason now – it’s for God’s glory!

And because we are adopted into God’s family by the blood of Jesus Christ shed, we should be compelled….we should be inspired…we should be dramatically motivated and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live as Christ did while he was on this earth and that means to purify ourselves with God’s help.  That is the response of being a Christian and that is the response of being a son or daughter of God the Father.  I will conclude with a great quote by the late Voddie Baucham by saying, “The gospel doesn’t require obedience.  It produces obedience!”  My identity is not rooted in whatever other title or opinion anyone says about me.  It is rooted in the person and works of Jesus Christ – I am a Christian and child of God the Father, beloved by him!

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Stay Close

June 10, 2026

The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
-Proverbs 4:18 (NIV)

Let’s face it, the journey of a Christian is never easy.  Newcomers to Christian faith probably think that since I just became a Christian, life will now be about roses and daisies.  Surely life does get better since day one because you’re building a better and deeper relationship with Jesus, the one whom our souls long for.  However, newcomers to Christian faith may not realize that Satan now has placed a bullseye on your back and he’s working schemes to disrupt your life and make your life miserable all the time.  But of course, during times of suffering God is using these moments for good!  How does that work?  You may want to check my devotional content entitled “Breaking Point”.

And yet there are times when we truly feel distant from God and even after confessing Jesus is Lord and Saviour (that’s another thing newcomers to Christian faith may not understand at first).  During the times when you feel distant, let me remind you that Jesus is compassionate, caring, he loves and adores you, and he’s waiting for you to come back to him.  I’m reminded that James 4:8 tells us, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”  I’m also reminded of the Prodigal Son story found in Luke 15:11-32.  In that story the loving Father kept waiting for the Prodigal Son to come back to him, just like God the Father does for anyone that drifted far away from him.  But it’s imperative that we draw close to God the Father through Jesus.  Seek him with all of your heart (Matt. 6:33), and even when we sin, please keep seeking him, and especially then ask for forgiveness.  Draw near to him, come to him in prayer and the Word of the Lord (scripture).

And when we feel distant and when the darkness seems to surround us (when there are many setbacks and losses in life), know that if you are a Christian, God is never as far as you think (Heb. 13:5).  Our passage in Proverbs rings true because God is the one that lights our path - and his light can never be extinguished.  With each step in our lives, God enables his light to light our path just a little bit more each day.  If you ask longtime Christians that have walked with Jesus for decades in true faith, they’ll probably tell you how much clearly, they see life now.  They’ll probably tell you that at first, they didn’t know what they were doing in life and suddenly Jesus came into the picture and gave them hope, reason, life, meaning, purpose, joy and light that they never experienced before.  Look!  I never said life would be void of pain and losses, but I did say Jesus will light your path just a little bit more each day.  Trust in him, follow him, seek him, draw near to him.  Spend time with him!  When was the last time you really sought after him?

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Too Much

June 3, 2026

12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

-1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NIV)

Let’s face it – at times life can get very difficult.  At times moments in our lives can feel unbearable, and you may think this is TOO MUCH for me to handle….but actually, that’s the point!  Surely several readers are now suddenly wide-eyed and surprised, but we shouldn’t be.  Think about all the painful moments we go through in life.  Perhaps there are times of financial ruin, losing loved ones, a decline in health, social struggles, and the list goes on and on.  Perhaps when we go through these times we may feel discouraged, fearful, alone, betrayed, misunderstood, hurt, nobody can relate, trapped, insecure, anxious, worried, confused, depressed and sometimes feeling empty or even angry.  Truthfully, we may go through a whole list of rollercoaster emotions.  With all these painful times and as followers of Jesus Christ, here's the incredibly good news….

GOD KNOWS ALL ABOUT IT!

GOD CARES!

YOU ARE BELOVED!

Unfortunately, while on earth many of these moments are unavoidable and It’s a fallen world after all.

Perhaps during these times of struggles many turn to the words from 1 Cor. 10:13 and think God won’t allow me to go through anything I can’t bear and so I’ll be okay just by default.  I believe this is a tremendous misunderstanding.  In fact, God allows us to go through times of hardships much more than we can bare so that we have the opportunity to come to God through Jesus Christ, to comfort us and also get us through these situations!  If done right and convicted by the Holy Spirit, it’s through these intense periods that we’re compelled to rush to the loving arms of Jesus Christ.  We do not call Jesus as Lord and Saviour on a one-dimensional basis whose title is linked only to spiritual and life everlasting salvation, but Jesus also guides, strengthens us and leads us through the everyday circumstances as well, whether mundane or truly extraordinary.  To put it simply, God allows us to go through tremendous hardships knowing full well we cannot bear them alone.  And that we can only overcome any calamity and difficulty with Jesus.  With Jesus we will overcome, but woe to any without Jesus.