Serve Your Soul
Your deepest desires will be unlocked when you learn to delight in God's presence and serving others.
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children...and he made him a tunic of many colors. His brothers...hated him...Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more...let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has devoured him...What profit is it if we kill our brother...Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him...They took Joseph’s tunic, and killed a male goat, and dipped the tunic in the blood. He recognized it, and said, “It is my son’s tunic. An evil animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.” Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.”
Genesis 37:3-7, 20, 26-27, 31, 33-34
Why did the brothers get so upset at their father loving Joseph? In ancient cultures the first born was the most important and the youngest had no authority. It must have been shocking to the brothers to see their youngest brother to have favor and the audacity to tell of dreams where they bowed down to him.
Are we different from the brothers? How does comparison and coveting impact our hearts? Are you content with what you have? Can you celebrate when others have success?
“Trust in Yahweh, and do good...delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this: he will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun...the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh."
Psalms 37:1, 3-7, 11, 23-24, 39
Turn on the television or browse the internet and you will see what the world encourages us to take delight in. A new car, a luxury item, the latest tech toy. How long does your satisfaction last when you get a new possession? A typical prayer might be Lord give me this or help me with that then I will give thanks. David says delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. He teaches the kingdom mindset where intimacy with God comes first and blessing comes second.
“There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men: a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it"
Ecclesiastes 6:1-2
What happens when you get what you want but not what you need? If you talk to someone with more life experience the odds are that they will tell you they wish they had more time with loved ones, not more possessions. How can living with the end in mind change how we live so we enjoy more of what matters today?
“The remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah will again take root downward, and bear fruit upward."
Isaiah 37:6-7, 31-32, 34-35
Think of the teachings of Jesus. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. How much importance does He place on humility? He shows how learning the kingdom life is not one of building up pride. It is surrendering to the Savior.
“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them. A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him...Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes...He sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
Mark 9:2, 7-8, 23-24, 35, 40, 50
Jesus delighted in doing God's will and God delighted in Jesus. Jesus could have used his power to get others to serve and exalt himself, but He didn't. He knew the path upward starts by kneeling down to wash feet and serve those in need.
Do you want to satisfy the deepest needs of your soul? Look up to the Lord, look out to the world around, and listen to the voice that calls you beloved as you do His will.