What Else Do I Need?

Scripture Verse - 1 Tim. 6:6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. "

Scripture Reading - Phil. 4:9-13 "Those things, which ye have both learned , and received , and heard , and seen in me, do : and the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again ; wherein ye were also careful , but ye lacked opportunity . Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned , in whatsoever state I am , therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased , and I know how to abound : every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry , both to abound and to suffer need . I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Contentment is a good thing, no, it is a great thing. When we realize that if we have a close intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, we then already have everything we would ever need in Him. That particular thought brings me great peace. I want to share with you this morning some of the blessings Jesus has not only provided me with, but He also offers these blessings to whosoever decides to follow Him. What a blessing it is that the Creator of this world, the One who spoke everything into existence desires to have a personal relationship with us. It brings me great peace to be able to cry out "Abba Father" to Him. Gal. 4:6 He allows us the opportunity, as many times as we will, to "boldly approach His throne of grace". Heb. 4:16 I always have great peace in His presence. I am being given the opportunity this morning to join with my brothers and sisters in Christ to glorify and worship His great name. It brings me great peace to go into the sanctuary and worship Him. I have the blessing of God's Word. I hunger for it. I am going to hear it spoken this morning, I am reading it this morning. It brings me great peace knowing the Word is the Truth. It can and does change my life. It is "marrow to my bones." Prov. 3:8 I have the blessing of the Jesus' promise to never leave me nor forsake me. It brings me great peace knowing He will never break His promises. I have the blessing of a great wife and Jesus' command to love her as He loves the church. It brings me great peace knowing that He gives me an example of how to love her. God has blessed me with wonderful children. It brings me great peace knowing as much as I love them, and I love them with every once of my being, Jesus loves them more. I could go on and on, and on. Is there anything else I need? No, Jesus completes me. I just need to follow Matt. 22:37 and "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." I am going to share with you this morning a poem I ran across about 10-12 years ago by A.B. Simpson it kind of sums up where I think God wants us to be in this walk with Him. Here it is :

HIMSELF by A. B. Simpson
Once it was the blessing, Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling, Now it is His Word.
Once His gifts I wanted, Now the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing, Now Himself alone.

Once 'twas painful trying, Now 'tis perfect trust;
Once a half salvation, Now the uttermost.
Once 'twas ceaseless holding, Now He holds me fast;
Once 'twas constant drifting, Now my anchor's cast.

Once 'twas busy planning, Now 'tis trustful prayer;
Once 'twas anxious caring, Now He has the care.
Once 'twas what I wanted, Now what Jesus says;
Once 'twas constant asking, Now 'tis ceaseless praise.

Once it was my working, His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him, Now He uses me.
Once the power I wanted, Now the Mighty One;
Once for self I labored, Now for Him alone.

Once I hoped in Jesus, Now I know He's mine;
Once my lamps were dying, Now they brightly shine.
Once for death I waited, Now His coming hail;
And my hopes are anchored, Safe within the vail.

Be Blessed and Live in the NOW