It would seem that many of us, more often, than not. Question the sufficiency of Christ in our lives.

 

The cares of this world. The things that can bring us down. Often have a way of causing us to question our faith. We wonder, "is Christ sufficient?" "Will He see me through?" "Can He meet all my needs?"

 

And I sometimes find myself asking these same kinds of questions.

 

You know the cares of this world have such a way of doing this. Entangling us emotionally. We can so easily be discouraged at the things we see around us. So "wrapped up".  

 

War, death, disease, and abuse (be it physical, mental, drug, other). The sex industry. The break down of the family unit. The poor, and those we see struggling around us. And our own trials. They often cause us to question the sufficiency of our Savior. We wonder. "Is He enough for us, the world around us?"

And it can really tear at our hearts. But it's in these times that we need too look to Him, even more.

 

We must remember that He is the author and the creator:

 

 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

 

                    (Genesis 1:1 NKJV)

 

We must fix our eyes back on Him:

 

 "Look to the LORD and his strength;
        seek his face always."

 

          (Psalm 105:4 NIV) 

 

We must go back to His word. And remember what His word says:

 

 "Remember the wonders he has done,
       his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,"

 

               (Psalm 105:5 NIV) 

 

We must remember the things He has done! That He is capable. And that He loves us so much. That He came down to be with us, and save us (JN 3:16-27). He came to meet us where we are at.

 

And just as He did this. We must ask Him to meet us in our doubts and our struggles. 

 

But when we, the world. Those around us, reject Him? Look away from Him? We only cause separation from Him. And the good He wants for us. And it's a great tragedy. And it's in these times. The only one we can blame?  ...Is the one looking back at us from the mirror.

 

And this is always hard for us to hear. Isn't it? Especially if we are in a hard place. But if we search our hearts. If we are honest with ourselves. We know this is true.

 

The choice is always ours! He never turns His back on us (Heb. 13:5). We turn it too Him!

 

And when we take our eyes off Him. We will sit and grasp for any kind of peace in our lives. Anything we think we can hold onto. But we forget that the only real peace we will EVER have in this world, or at all for that matter! Is only found in Him:

 

 ""Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful."

 

                       (John 14:27 HCSB)

 

Life is not perfect! And this is reality. And it seems that there is so much in this world. To take our view off of Him. And onto other things. Money, possessions, the internet and the T.V. (etc.). To the point where we look less to Him. And more to everything else. Then we doubt His power to help us live our lives! And we become discouraged in our faith. We doubt His sufficiency in our lives.

 

And this makes me ask. What is it that we need to keep our view on Him? What does it take for us to keep Him first in our lives? To know that He is sufficient?

 

First, we must remember that He is our redeemer:

 

 "Then they remembered that God was their rock,
          And the Most High God their Redeemer."

 

                (Psalm 78:35 NKJV)

 

 "But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
      And He who formed you, O Israel:

      “ Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
      I have called you by your name;
      You are Mine."

 

         (Isaiah 43:1 NKJV)

 

And we must remember our place in Him:

 

 "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"

 

               (1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV)

 

We are the temple of God! Each and every one of us!! Not a, "maybe" we are the temple of God! But we ARE!! Just think about it!!!

 

And His Spirit lives within us (JN 14:17). And He guides us (JN 16:13). If we listen too Him!

 

And we must practice listening to Him, to know His voice. By doing more listening, than we do talking when we pray. And by having regular prayer time. Having devotions. Reading His word. And personal worship time with Him.

 

 ...And by spending more time with Him, than we do the T.V. or anything else that we put above Him (and let's all be honest, we are all guilty of this!)!

 

But if we can do this? We will have a closer (and much more fulfilling) walk with Him.

 

But yet when we are filling ourselves with the things of this world. And very little of Him. What would we expect? Would we expect our faith to be built up?

 

It would be much like taking a long trip in your car. You fill up with only a gallon of gas and expect to go 1,000 miles. How far would you get? 

 

...Probably not very far!

 

Afterall, our lives here require much more than an occasional prayer, or fellowship time with Him. Do they not?

 

Now, does this mean that we are to disconnect ourselves from the world?

 

No! But it does mean that we are careful. Careful with those we associate with. Careful with the things we take in, listen too, etc.:

 

 "Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

 

                (1 Corinthinas 15:33 NKJV)

 

You see we have to question ourselves.

 

What are the things we mainly fill ourselves up with?

 

What are the things that we mainly think on? Are they the things Paul encouraged us to think on?

 

 "For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]."

                (Philippians 4:8 Amp. B.)

Or are we focused on all the negative things and circumstances of life? In our own lives. And those we see around us.

Yes, This life can be painful. For us and those around us.

And there are some horrible things that go on in this world. We should never be "naive". Nor turn a blind eye! But we can never let these become our sole focus. God must be at the center of our lives. We must keep our eyes on Him.

So we must "dig" more into His word. And remember that it will build our faith:

 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

                     (Romans 10:17 NKJV)

And we must remember it is the basis for what we believe:

 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,"

                  (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV)

And we must also remember that words are powerful:

 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
       And those who love it will eat its fruit.'

                    (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV)

What we listen to. What we take in. Be it good, or bad. It does affect us!

And of all the words we can read, or hear. His word is most powerful:

 "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

                    (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)

And we must remember that our Savior is faithfull. He WILL see us through this life:

 "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

                    (Hebrews 7:25 NKJV)

He is sufficient for us and the world!

And He is good at His word! He does not change:

 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."

                    (Matthew 24:35 NKJV)

“ For I am the LORD, I do not change;
      Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob."

                       (Malachi 3:6 NKJV)

He is God! No one has, nor ever could remove Him from His throne:

 "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
         A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom."

             (Psalm 45:6 NKJV)

And when we struggle in our faith? We feel He is not sufficient enough for us? We must cry out to Him and ask for help! Just as the father who cried out to Jesus for his son to be healed:

 "Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

                     (Mark 9:23-24 NKJV)

So the question is not so much, is Jesus sufficient in our lives. The question is this. Do we really trust Him with our lives?

Afterall, Paul said this:

 "if we are faithless,
       he will remain faithful,
       for he cannot disown himself."

          (2 Timothy 2:13 NIV)

That's something we all have to think about!

 

And here's some "food for thought":

 "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
         For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You."

                       (Psalm 9:10 NKJV)