From the book “Seeing the Unseen: A Daily Dose of Eternal Perspective” by Randy Alcorn
Welcome po sa ating weekender ng atin pong daily devotions. We are now on our sixth day of our 10th week, at ang sabi ko po sa inyo kahapon, 60 days lang pala itong ating devotional so we are now in day 59. So next week in day one natin would be the last day of this devotional pero hanap tayo ng magandang devotional as we continue on with our daily devotions. So ngayong araw pong ito, as we end the week we’ll be looking at true contentment: finding true contentment. To do that we’ll be looking at 1 Timothy 6 and 2 Corinthians 12.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6 (ESV)
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10 (ESV)
Ang gandang encouragement ito galing kay Pablo. So let’s go now to our devotional. Sabi po ni Randy Alcorn: Each phase of life is different, with its own challenges but also its own rewards (so, iba-ibang phase, iba-ibang challenge, iba-ibang pagpapala). The way to contentment is to compare the advantages of our present calling to the disadvantages of past and of the of the past and future. Sinclair Ferguson writes, “Christian contentment…is the direct fruit of having no higher ambition than to belong to the Lord and to be totally at His disposal in the place He appoints, at the time He chooses, with the provision He is pleased to make.” Ang ganda nun. So si Sinclair Ferguson, nirelate niya inequate niya ang christian contentment as bunga raw po, as a fruit na walang mataas na ambisyon kundi to belong to the Lord and to be totally at His disposal and to be working to be of good use for His purposes. Sa mga panahon na Kanyang itinakda, sa kaparaanan at sa pagtutustos Niya sa mga panahon na iyon. And I like that, right?
“We won’t be fully content until we’re home with our Beloved and that means Jesus Christ. But the closest we can get to contentment—and to Heaven—while we’re still here as aliens and strangers on this Earth, is when we come away with Jesus and get away from His substitutes. We need to tear down the idols and give God sole occupation of the throne of our lives. Sabing ganun ni Apostle John as he closed ang kanyang letter sa 1John 5:21, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” True contentment comes when you’re looking to only one God the genuine article.”
Ang true contentment ay pagtingin lamang, pagfocus lamang sa ating nag-iisang Diyos and the rest will fade away. If we focus on the Lord then we would be content with His provisions, His providences, His purposes.
Our devotion comes from the book:
Seeing the Unseen: A Daily Dose of Eternal Perspective by Randy Alcorn
From the author of the bestselling book Heaven, here are 60 meditations that will inspire you to live each day with an eternal perspective. In daily doses, Randy Alcorn offers insights on the Christian life along with Scriptures and inspirational quotes that can transform the way you think and live today.
Note: The Revised and Updated edition of Seeing The Unseen is available for purchase from their EPM store.