The society in which we live is filled with challenges that will not only affect our physical well-being, but make it impossible to know real contentment.
We are bombarded with images of violence, political leaders failing to give a true and accurate account on any issue, and even religious leaders who preach messages that do not line up with the Word of God. These same challenges will even test our faith. So, what must we do to find contentment and stay grounded and rooted in our faith? The answer is simply found in knowing Jesus.
If you read three of the four gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, you will find this account of Jesus’ conversation with the disciples:
In Matthew 16:13-17 (AKJV): “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
You see, the disciples had seen him heal the sick. They had seen him feed thousands with little. They had seen him walk on water. They had seen him cast out devils. They had even seen him raise the dead. Yet, Jesus still asked the question, who do men say I am.
They may have known Joseph, his earthly father who guided him into the field of carpentry. They may have known his siblings. They may have even known Mary, his mother, but his question was so much deeper than what their physical eyes could bear witness to. Jesus’ question of “Who do men say I am?” brought about many answers. But Jesus had another question for them. “Who do you say I am?” In other words, do you know who I am beyond the flesh that you see?
Jesus asked a question that went beyond the physical realm and tapped directly into the spirit man. How does an individual tap into what the Holy Spirt revealed to Peter? How does one position oneself to find contentment and strengthen faith that is bombarded daily? There are three steps that can be helpful to a baby saint or even a seasoned Christian.
1) You must define Christ in your life: It matters not what the world thinks about Christ. You must claim your identity in Christ. Once you identify Jesus as the Christ, as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, your faith has a foundation. You can build on a solid foundation. Your faith can continue to grow on this foundation. You are the church, not a building, and you are set on a “rock” Matthew 7:24-25: “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”
Because Christ is the foundation upon which you build every aspect of your life, you know that the principles that are being used to build will withstand the challenges of life and provide support on which you can firmly plant your feet. The principles do not change from day to day or even century to century.
2) You must speak who Christ is in your life. He is savior. Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” You have the assurance of who Jesus is. In John 6:35, The Bread of Life. In John 8:12, The Light of the World. In John 10:7, The Door of the Sheep. In John 10:11, The Good Shepherd. In John 11:25, The Resurrection and the Life. In Revelations 1:8, The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end! Speak life over your life, over your family, over your job, over your community, because Proverbs 18-21 tells us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
3) You must recognize the Prince of Peace: No Jesus! No Peace! As we examine what Peter had to say in Philippians 4:11, it becomes clear that Peter endured many things, some good and some not so pleasant. However, in every situation Peter knew he was not alone and that through the unity in Christ he was not only able to survive, he was able to “not fret” because his strength was not within himself. He survived well in the strength of the Lord. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!
