satisfied?



The above image is supposed to represent the Mother of James and John, two of Jesus's disciples, pleading with Jesus....  What did she want?  Why was she interceding for her two sons?  Oh! here is a tidbit of a story in Scripture that is too often overlooked for possessing any deep spiritual meaning.  Yet, it is immensely important.

Here's the text:

"Then came to him [Jesus] the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons [James and John], worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.  And he said unto her, What wilt thou?  She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom...." (Matthew 20:20-21).

Of all Jesus's disciples, of all his followers together, I don't recall reading of anyone else coming to Jesus with a similar request as hers and her sons'.  And Jesus, what did he answer her?  "Ye know not what ye ask.  Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"  Which sounds something like a polite rebuke.  Though it was not a rebuke, no, neither to her nor to her sons.  For, in practically every situation wherein we read in Scripture that Jesus chose a very few men to be part of his "inner circle," as it were, whom do we see in that intimate company?  Peter, James and John.  Surely, that was no mere coincidence!  Even after Jesus's Ascension, we find that God evidently extended special grace unto James and John ~ both of whom were Apostles prominently blessed to be used by God in the Church.

Whereas, Thomas, for example, is by comparison little mentioned in Scripture.  The singular exception being that Thomas is known to us as the one who doubted.

What was the difference between Thomas on the one hand, and James and John on the other?  Thomas, I suppose, was satisfied.  James and John were not.  There is no suggestion in the Bible that leads us to believe Thomas ever approached Jesus with a desire like James and John had, that is, to walk closely with Jesus.

Those (many) who believe in the false doctrine of "predestination," cannot ~ because they are prevented by the chains of their own misunderstanding, they cannot, I say, understand that God loves to deal with those who have comparatively greater desire Godward.  "Prove it!" (I hear someone object); "God is no respecter of persons!" (I hear, again).  To which I reply, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures...."   The following should be proof enough that God has established (what I like to call) an "incentive program":

"He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6) 

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him...." (2 Chronicles 16:9)

In both passages, above, God is seeking for something.  He wants to reward someone.  Moreover, God wants to "shew himself strong...".   Whom does God want to reward?  To whom does God want to show himself strong "in their behalf"?  Answer: God wants to reward "them that diligently seek him".  He wants to show himself strong "in the behalf of" ~ "them whose heart is perfect toward him."  In both cases, there are qualifications ~ qualifications which are at least very largely dependent upon the will of the individual.

ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH WHERE YOU ARE IN GOD?  Are you satisfied with your daily walk with Christ?  Are you satisfied with the power of God in your life? with the Presence of God's Spirit that is manifested to you?  Are you satisfied with your knowledge of heavenly things?  Are you satisfied with your power to win souls?

I don't know about you, but I am about to weep....  I am so very far from being satisfied....

I know ~ on the authority of God's Word, not only that there IS more for us, individually, in Christ; moreover, that God WANTS more for us...than we want for ourselves.  I believe it.  There is a real sense in which God is seeking to draw us closer to himself.  Still, there is another real sense in which, I believe it must be true, that God is waiting upon us, individually....

Haven't we waited long enough?  If we are satisfied with anything, why should we not rather be "satisfied" to have had enough of the world?  Why do so many incessantly try to find fulfillment with worldly things?  They are not yet satisfied with their experience in the world; though, apparently, they are satisfied (content) with their little experience of God.

Oh! to have a Mother like James and John have!  What a powerful, godly influence she must have been in their lives!  What spiritual perception she herself must have possessed!  And her sons did follow her example.  Obviously.  To their own, everlasting glory and joy....

I want to close with a warning.  I feel impressed with boldness to write this....  I believe God may allow to us some extraordinary visitations in the coming days ~ in order as God is moving to prepare us for Revival.  At the same time, I believe it may be the case, that God will observe our response to such visitations ~ to see whether we will be "satisfied" with those experiences.  Will we suppose we have made some spiritual "progress;" that we have "arrived" at a new level of spirituality; and thus be satisfied with our "new position" in grace?

Beware of being "satisfied" with your present or past experiences; yea, beware of being satisfied even with new and better experiences.   WE MUST NOT STOP SHORT OF EARTH-SHAKING REVIVAL!!!! 

Rather, seek ever to be hungry and thirsty for more and more of God.  In my years of studying Revival, I have seen that Revival always APPEARS to occur suddenly, spontaneously.  Yet, the reality is very different.  Revival NEVER comes without a great deal of preparation.  And I do believe God is always trying our hearts, seeking to bring us to the fullness of Christ ~ according as we will set our hearts upon the Lord, to find our highest "satisfaction" in him.