ICS Daily Devotions
Godliness with Contentment Brings Joy
1 Timothy 6:6-7 (NKJV) Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
Godliness is closely associated with contentment, and it brings about great gain, especially joy.
Godliness is a pursuit of God, how He views us and what is important to Him. It is also the awareness in our heart and mind that God has our interest at heart. It is about knowing God for who He is, and as someone like a close friend, especially his character. It develops faith, absolute trust and confidence in God, including how we respond to the different challenges in life.
Therefore, when we know that God is interested in every aspect of our lives, an inexplicable joy will be found in our hearts. It is a quiet confidence that everything will be fine because God is with us and for us, and we won’t be running around frantically trying to look for assurance and help from the people around us.
The first thing we will do whenever we are faced with a situation that tries to steal our peace and joy is to pray. We have this confidence as we commit our challenges to Him because we are aware of what God can do, who we are in Christ and what Jesus has done for us on the cross. The worst-case scenario for us is to be in His presence at a time that God has prepared.
The Bible tells us that we are blessed with all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. These truths form our identity that brings about contentment: –
• We are forgiven and redeemed (Eph 1:7) by the blood of Jesus Christ.
• He has caused us to be accepted in the beloved (Eph 1:6).
• We have been accounted as righteous (2 Cor 5:21) when we accepted and believed in Jesus Christ.
• We have peace with God (Rom 5:1) that’s bought by the blood of Jesus Christ.
• We have been given the right to be children of the living God (Joh 1:12).
• We are seated with Christ (Eph 2:6) in the heavenly places far above all principalities, dominions and might.
• We have an everlasting covenant with God (Heb 13:20) through the blood of Jesus Christ.
• We are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13) as a proof and sign that we belong to God.
• There is nothing in this world or out of this world that will be able to separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:39).
• He shall supply all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19).
When what truly matters to us is found in the mind and thoughts of God about us, we will come to a place of rest and contentment. If God is for us, nothing will be against us!
Sermon Series: Joy – The Fruit of the Holy Spirit
