"The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life." John 6:63
The world we live in is becoming increasingly drama-filled. I think in part because as we try to fill the need for true spirituality in our lives, for a lack of ability to do so, we grasp at all the emotional, thinking somehow this will fill the void. Like much of the nutrition-free food we eat, this is not satisfy our inner hunger for something more meaningful, so we consume more and more and are never satisfied. Because the emotional stuff will never fill the spiritual void, just like empty calories do not satisfy physical hunger.
Only truly spiritual things can satisfy spiritual hunger. Like; His Word (the Bible), prayer (talking and listening to Him), witnessing (sharing our faith with others), serving (helping others in His name), giving (sharing our resources sacrificially), and worshiping ( participating in glorifying Him). Only these things will satisfy spiritual hunger.
This is why the thrill of relationships, drugs, shopping, gambling, working, sex, controlling, and obsessing all wear off, because they are usually emotionally driven, and leave us wanting more and it will never be enough.
Can we just be joyful about our salvation or because of His love or grace or mercy or purpose? This is why believers in impoverished or desperate places seem happier, because they are not confused by the dissatisfaction of the emptiness of vain attempts to fill the voids in their lives. Sure, there is emotional drama-filled stuff everywhere, but not to the extent of the shallow consumerist games we play with self-fulfillment. For example, the emotion that comes from not knowing where your next meal is coming from is so different from having an emotional attitude about poor service in a restaurant because you are in a bad mood. Moodiness should not be confused with depression that comes from repression, or true lack of opportunity. Life comes from truth, and following the way. Jesus is all three: the way, the truth and the life. That transcends economics, culture, and circumstance.
For those of us who live in the spoiled-rotten part of the world, we will never experience true joy until we deal with the same spiritual needs as those who have nothing. Something may be getting in the way of celebrating Easter that we avoid considering. Would you be as happy being a Christian somewhere else? You should. Easy to say? Sure, but this Easter consider if you had nothing, would the joy of salvation be more meaningful? I guarantee this….no matter where you are, when we all get home to heaven, it won’t be the most important thing where you are from or whether you over ate or starved getting there. The flesh counts for nothing, the words He spoke are spirit and give life. Eternal Life!
Happy Easter!
Pastor Fred
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