There was a version of this statement from the title in a song we sang at church Sunday morning and it has completely been stuck in my head since. Not the song....I don’t even remember the name of the song. Just that statement; Jesus is enough. As it has bounced around my brain over the 24+ hours I have realized how powerful it is. And more importantly, in a time as this, I have felt convicted to challenge myself to look at how deeply I believe that statement to be the case. What life circumstances could happen where I might falter on this belief?
The statement itself says He is enough. Enough so that you don’t need anything else. No other people, places or things. I KNOW this is true, but is my life a practical example of this knowledge at work?
Sure, we were obedient to God’s call to come to South Africa, but if I leave this place and my time and work here are judged to be a complete failure by others is Jesus enough to cover my human need for approval? If I feel directed to move my family to another place that may be deemed unsafe by many standards is Jesus enough to cover my natural instinct of protection and control? If I am led to a role and circumstance that barely pays the bills is Jesus enough to humble my ego against a culture of money? If I am led to continue to live away from family and dear friends is Jesus enough to fill the comfort that those usually bring? If I am led to not plant my kids in a highly rated school system is Jesus enough to cover the perceived loss of a “good” education? If serious health issues strike is Jesus enough to endure through the challenges that will be faced?
My thoughts are continuing along this line as I grasp to understand the magnitude of the statement. At the root of it is actually the commandment “You shall have no other gods before me”. It sounds so simple, but sin has made it so hard. Jesus is enough to bring me what money, acceptance, safety, comfort, power, convenience, control and ego can’t, but there is not a day that goes by that one or more of my actions aren’t influenced by one of those things. Again I ask; is my life a practical example of this knowledge at work? Or I am simply living out the saying, “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig”.
We, as sinful humans, have gotten so good at altering our gods into acceptable forms that they are so ingrained and natural we don’t even recognize them. I am sure I can be found guilty of taking the label “Christian” or even “Christian missionary” and applying it like a fine lipstick before heading off to wallow in the mud and search for truffles. At times I can find myself saying Jesus is enough while a quick search of my heart reveals that I have been unknowingly building a master back up plan. The fact remains that the statement “Jesus is enough” is true and always will be true. My ability and yours to live a life that is a practical example of this knowledge at work may be the variable that falters at times, but in the midst of the struggles we should find comfort knowing that it is also the truth that secures our eternal salvation.
Tate
The statement itself says He is enough. Enough so that you don’t need anything else. No other people, places or things. I KNOW this is true, but is my life a practical example of this knowledge at work?
Sure, we were obedient to God’s call to come to South Africa, but if I leave this place and my time and work here are judged to be a complete failure by others is Jesus enough to cover my human need for approval? If I feel directed to move my family to another place that may be deemed unsafe by many standards is Jesus enough to cover my natural instinct of protection and control? If I am led to a role and circumstance that barely pays the bills is Jesus enough to humble my ego against a culture of money? If I am led to continue to live away from family and dear friends is Jesus enough to fill the comfort that those usually bring? If I am led to not plant my kids in a highly rated school system is Jesus enough to cover the perceived loss of a “good” education? If serious health issues strike is Jesus enough to endure through the challenges that will be faced?
My thoughts are continuing along this line as I grasp to understand the magnitude of the statement. At the root of it is actually the commandment “You shall have no other gods before me”. It sounds so simple, but sin has made it so hard. Jesus is enough to bring me what money, acceptance, safety, comfort, power, convenience, control and ego can’t, but there is not a day that goes by that one or more of my actions aren’t influenced by one of those things. Again I ask; is my life a practical example of this knowledge at work? Or I am simply living out the saying, “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig”.
We, as sinful humans, have gotten so good at altering our gods into acceptable forms that they are so ingrained and natural we don’t even recognize them. I am sure I can be found guilty of taking the label “Christian” or even “Christian missionary” and applying it like a fine lipstick before heading off to wallow in the mud and search for truffles. At times I can find myself saying Jesus is enough while a quick search of my heart reveals that I have been unknowingly building a master back up plan. The fact remains that the statement “Jesus is enough” is true and always will be true. My ability and yours to live a life that is a practical example of this knowledge at work may be the variable that falters at times, but in the midst of the struggles we should find comfort knowing that it is also the truth that secures our eternal salvation.
Tate
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