Empty life ?

[SANTOSO]

Shouldn’t we show concern for our empty way of life ? This is what we have heard:

18 For you KNOW that God paid a ransom to save you from the EMPTY LIFE you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.-1 Peter 1:18-19 NLT

So let us not hide under the excuse that we were living this empty lives because this was what we were taught by our forefathers.

For there is a strong concern that we should know God paid a ransom to redeem us from our empty lives with the precious blood of Christ.

Then apostle Peter said:
He ( Christ) was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you -1 Peter 1:20 ESV

who through Him (Christ) are believers in God, who raised Him ( Christ) from the dead and gave Him ( Christ ) glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. -1 Peter 1:21

So Christ was manifested in these last times for our sake, so that our faith and hope are in God.

What is our faith ? What is our hope ?
Our faith and hope is that, the blood of Christ redeems us from our empty lives.

Why was Christ willing to redeem us from our empty lives ? Why God paid ?

This is what we have heard:
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. -Hebrews 9:14

Yes, our Lord Jesus Christ who loved us and gave Himself for us to purify our conscience ( heart ) from dead works to serve the living God.

So let us be filled with joy and peace in believing because of His love for us, and may the power of Holy Spirit abounds us in hope.

 

[SongOnTheWind]

I think our lives are empty if Christ isn't in our lives. If we have Christ and yet not the riches of this world, those riches don't even matter. We have endless life of eternity in Him. If we're not living an adventure every day, but we have Christ, what is adventure going to do that He can't? Either way we remain full of life because of the promise of eternity we have in Jesus.

Or just because we are not walking on water, changing the weather, or turning water into wine, doesn't mean our lives are empty, especially if we have the One who did all those things and more. God will use us however He wills, and though we should desire to be useful for Him, we don't live just for spectacle. Spectacle itself is empty and void of meaning. Christ means everything, He is the source of everything, by Him all things are held together.

The apostle John may have been exiled to Patmos, but he certainly didn't have a meaningless time there. He had a heavenly communication with the Lord. His days were not empty, but filled with Revelation.

Matthew 25:37-40
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Shalom

 

[SANTOSO]

Can we consider empty lives, as unfilled lives?
So we can consider having ABUNDANT lives, as filled lives or fulfilled lives ?

Then we should really consider what our Lord have said to us:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it ABUNDANTLY. -John 10:10

So we can consider those who have empty lives are those whose life stolen unaware.
And those whose lives were killed and destroyed, we can consider that they didn’t have life to begin with because they didn’t come to the Lord.

Thus, it is utmost importance that we come to our Lord that we may have life and having that life ABUNDANTLY.

What is this life that the Lord spoke of ? This is what we have heard:

We were buried therefore with Him ( Christ ) by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. -Romans 6:4

So we come to our Lord, having been baptized with Him, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead from the glory of the Father, that we may have this covenant life, that is, walking in this newness of life with Him.

What is this ABUNDANCE that the Lord spoke of ? This is what we have heard:

Oh, how ABUNDANT is your GOODNESS, which You have stored up for those who fear You and worked for those who take refuge in You, in the sight of the children of mankind! -Psalms 31:19

So dear ones, let us listen to the Lord’s counsel; let us fear God as our Heavenly Father has taught us in Psalms 34:11-14, then the Lord’s goodness will make our new life ABUNDANT.

Yes, let us take refuge in the Lord’s name, that we may receive what He has worked for, that is, His goodness.

Thus, having this covenant life, it is our Lord’s goodness that make our lives ABUNDANT.

 

[SongOnTheWind]

I guess it all comes to what one thinks of as a meaningful life. Life without Christ has no meaning or context at all.

 

[SANTOSO]

Aren’t those with empty lives have unsatisfied lives ? while those with godly contentment have satisfied lives.

This is what we have heard:
But godliness with contentment is great gain, -1 Timothy 6:6

What is this great gain that apostle Paul spoke of ? After some eloboration, he said :

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things.
Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. -1 Timothy 6:11
Fight the good fight of the faith.
Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. -1 Timothy 6:12
I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, -1 Timothy 6:13
to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, -1 Timothy 6:14

So I consider godliness with contentment, that is，great gain；if we are to understand and perceive, we need to consider ourselves doing what apostle have said in 1 Timothy 6:11-14.

Though we may hear what has been said :
But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. -1 Timothy 6:8

But we will not understand what is this great gain unless we delight ourselves and do what we have been told in 1 Timothy 6:11-14.

I consider for us to have satisfied lives in Christ; there are things that we are told to flee from; there are things that we need to pursue, take hold and made a good confession, keep and free from —what we have told by apostles of the Lord.

Doing what we are told by apostles of the Lord will please the Lord who sent them.
Let us delight ourselves in pleasing the Lord, in this manner, we will have satisfied lives in union with Christ.

 

[SANTOSO]

I guess it all comes to what one thinks of as a meaningful life. Life without Christ has no meaning or context at all.

Dear one,
Can we consider FULL-FILLED lives as meaningful lives ?

Can we consider empty lives who are redeemed by the blood of Christ, as lives that need to be FILLED to be FULL ?

This is what we have heard:
Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
For He satisfies the longing soul,
And FILLS the hungry soul with goodness.-Psalm 107:8-9 NKJV

dear one, let us consider the steadfast love of the Lord, that He FILLS the hungry soul (mind/emotion/will) with goodness.

So we can consider our minds/emotions/wills that has been FILLED with goodness — we can consider our hungry souls no longer empty but have been FILLED.

For our Lord have said to us:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. -John 10:10

As we have previously considered, ABUNDANT life, as FULL-FILLED life.
So as many would come to the Lord, will have abundant lives or fulfilled life. In other words, having lives filled with abundance are lives FULL-FILLED. But what ABUNDANCE is our Lord have spoken of; this is what we have heard:

Oh, how abundant is your GOODNESS, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! -Psalms 31:19

So when we have come to the Lord ; in other words, when we have come to offer our souls ( minds/emotions/wills) to the Lord.
Our Lord FILLS our souls with His goodness.

So then what is our Lord’s goodness? This is what we have heard:

and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be FILLED with all the fullness of God. -Ephesians 3:19

Since the love of Christ FILLS us with all the FULLNESS of God. So then, what has FILLED our souls with the Lord’s goodness is the love of Christ.

When our souls (minds/emotions/wills) have been FILLED with the love of Christ, our souls have been FILLED with the FULLNESS of God. It can be said that He FILLS ours souls with His goodness.

That is why we have heard apostle Paul said this to us:

complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. -Philippians 2:2

So dear ones,
let us complete the joy of our apostles by being of the same mind, having the love of Christ. In this manner, we are being in full accord and of one mind.

So when we offer our souls (minds/souls/emotions) to the Lord,
He FILLS us with His love.

So lives that are FULL-FILLED are lives in the love of Christ.
Yes, ABUNDANT lives are lives that are FILLED with the love of Christ.

For God FILLS our hungry souls with the love of Christ.

Yes, God paid us a ransom to redeem us from our empty lives handed by our ancestors with the blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish or defect. And it is the love of Christ that fills our hungry souls with goodness.

So let us give thanks to God for the love of Christ
Let us give thanks for the wonderful works of His love to the children of men.

Yes, let our souls ( minds/ emotions/wills ) consider the steadfast of the Lord. In this manner, we will be made wise for salvation in Christ Jesus, our Lord our God.

 

[SongOnTheWind]

Dear one,
Can we consider FULL-FILLED lives as meaningful lives ?

Can we consider empty lives who are redeemed by the blood of Christ, as lives that need to be FILLED to be FULL ?

This is what we have heard:
Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
For He satisfies the longing soul,
And FILLS the hungry soul with goodness.-Psalm 107:8-9 NKJV

dear one, let us consider the steadfast love of the Lord, that He FILLS the hungry soul (mind/emotion/will) with goodness.

So we can consider our minds/emotions/wills that has been FILLED with goodness — we can consider our hungry souls no longer empty but have been FILLED.

For our Lord have said to us:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. -John 10:10

As we have previously considered, ABUNDANT life, as FULL-FILLED life.
So as many would come to the Lord, will have abundant lives or fulfilled life. In other words, having lives filled with abundance are lives FULL-FILLED. But what ABUNDANCE is our Lord have spoken of; this is what we have heard:

Oh, how abundant is your GOODNESS, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! -Psalms 31:19

So when we have come to the Lord ; in other words, when we have come to offer our souls ( minds/emotions/wills) to the Lord.
Our Lord FILLS our souls with His goodness.

So then what is our Lord’s goodness? This is what we have heard:

and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be FILLED with all the fullness of God. -Ephesians 3:19

Since the love of Christ FILLS us with all the FULLNESS of God. So then, what has FILLED our souls with the Lord’s goodness is the love of Christ.

When our souls (minds/emotions/wills) have been FILLED with the love of Christ, our souls have been FILLED with the FULLNESS of God. It can be said that He FILLS ours souls with His goodness.

That is why we have heard apostle Paul said this to us:

complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. -Philippians 2:2

So dear ones,
let us complete the joy of our apostles by being of the same mind, having the love of Christ. In this manner, we are being in full accord and of one mind.

So when we offer our souls (minds/souls/emotions) to the Lord,
He FILLS us with His love.

So lives that are FULL-FILLED are lives in the love of Christ.
Yes, ABUNDANT lives are lives that are FILLED with the love of Christ.

For God FILLS our hungry souls with the love of Christ.

Yes, God paid us a ransom to redeem us from our empty lives handed by our ancestors with the blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish or defect. And it is the love of Christ that fills our hungry souls with goodness.

So let us give thanks to God for the love of Christ
Let us give thanks for the wonderful works of His love to the children of men.

Yes, let our souls ( minds/ emotions/wills ) consider the steadfast of the Lord. In this manner, we will be made wise for salvation in Christ Jesus, our Lord our God.

For me, what it all comes down to is obedience, sustainability and meaning. If we obey God in our calling, we fulfil that calling. If we can sustain that calling by continual obedience, we can bear fruit in Christ, and if we have Christ, we lack nothing, but instead have our life, purpose and meaning restored. It's as simple as that for me. We may not do everything perfectly, and we may make some mistakes and have to trace a learning curve or two; but His grace is sufficient. Bless God.

 

[SANTOSO]

Dear one,
This is what we have heard:

For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will REPLENISH." -Jeremiah 31:25

What is languishing ? It was explained as someone who lose strength or fade or no longer active, or sink under sorrow or continued passions.

Aren’t we glad that the Lord our God is willing
to replenish our languishing souls ? Yes, we are.

But to whom the Lord spoke this; this is what we have heard:

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Once more they shall use these words in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I restore their fortunes: "'The LORD bless you, O habitation of righteousness, O holy hill!' -Jeremiah 31:23

And Judah and all its cities shall dwell there together, and the farmers and those who wander with their flocks. -Jeremiah 31:24

For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish." -Jeremiah 31:25

So let our souls, that is, our minds/emotions/ wills inhabit righteousness
and our Lord our God will REPLENISH our languishing souls.

Our Lord Jesus Christ have said :
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be SATISFIED. -Matthew 5:6

So dear ones, let our hungry SOULS be FILLED, and let our thirsty SOULS be quenched. Then our SOULS will be SATISFIED.

Let our hunger for righteousness be filled with the bread of life,
and our thirst for righteousness be quenched with living water.

As our Lord Jesus Christ have said:
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. -John 6:35

So let us come to the Lord’s righteousness and believe in His righteousness, then we shall not hunger and shall never thirst.
Yes, our languishing SOULS be REPLENISHED,
and our weary SOULS be SATISFIED.

 

[SongOnTheWind]

Are you trying to point out a disagreement between our statements? If so, I don't see any. What I will say though, is that although does care, He prioritises. He is more concerned about our spiritual condition than He is our comfort. So for that languishing soul? He will restore their spirit before anything else, which can't happen unless we are reconciled in Christ. We need to seek Him first, and His Kingdom, and His righteousness (we can't ask with unrighteous motives, such as greed or pride or revenge) THEN all these other good things, principally spiritual restoration, will be added unto us. Once our souls are satisfied spiritually; then then the outward manifestation in the physically naturall follows.

God doesn't have pity on us because we are good people and we deserve it. Rather, while we were dying in our sins, He came to save us from sin, not discomfort first.

He is the lover of our souls, but He wants do some fixing first before He does the paint and polish.

This is all I would add to what you have already so eloquently put.

Be blessed

 

[SANTOSO]

Are you trying to point out a disagreement between our statements? If so, I don't see any. What I will say though, is that although does care, He prioritises. He is more concerned about our spiritual condition than He is our comfort. So for that languishing soul? He will restore their spirit before anything else, which can't happen unless we are reconciled in Christ. We need to seek Him first, and His Kingdom, and His righteousness (we can't ask with unrighteous motives, such as greed or pride or revenge) THEN all these other good things, principally spiritual restoration, will be added unto us. Once our souls are satisfied spiritually; then then the outward manifestation in the physically naturall follows.

God doesn't have pity on us because we are good people and we deserve it. Rather, while we were dying in our sins, He came to save us from sin, not discomfort first.

He is the lover of our souls, but He wants do some fixing first before He does the paint and polish.

This is all I would add to what you have already so eloquently put.

Be blessed

Dear one, I would not call it as disagreement. But this is what we have heard:

And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. -Mark 4:24

Yes, we have heard our Lord said to pay attention to what we hear. Isn’t that what we are supposed to do ? When we listen carefully, there are more that we can understand and perceive from His words than previously we might have understood and perceived. Aren’t we glad for our Lord concerns ? Didn’t He say in this manner, because He loves us ?
Yes, He loves us. As apostle Peter have said to us :
May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. -2 Peter 1:2

So as we increase in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord, that we may be multiplied in the grace and peace of God.

Wouldn’t that be delightful? We are delighted to be loved in this manner because His grace and peace abound in our hearts.

I would not say that “the Lord is more concerned about spiritual condition than our comfort.” I understand there are some who perceive comfort as of the flesh. But I believe that we should consider what we have heard from apostle Paul:

If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. -2 Corinthians 1:6

I would not have said : “God doesn't have pity on us because we are good people and we deserve it.”

For this, we have heard:
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.-Psalms 103:13 NKJV

So the Lord do pities us who fear Him, or in other translation: the Lord do have compassion on us who fear Him. Not because we are good people and deserve His compassion but because we fear Him.

Dear one, I would consider that we don’t deserve what our Lord have given; because if we do deserve, it would not be His grace that save us. Because of His grace, that we can receive underserved favor from God the Father who gave us His Son as gift of righteousness.

Dear one, on what account, we are good people that we deserve it; is it our good works ? This is what we have heard:

the power of God, -2 Timothy 1:8 ESV
who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, -2 Timothy 1:9 ESV

So it is not because our good works that we deserve it but because His own purpose and grace which He gave us in Christ Jesus before time began.

So dear one, let us delight ourselves in the Lord, yes in His words. For we heard our Lord Himself have said :

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. -John 6:63 ESV

So as we commune or meditate His words in spirit and truth, we will find His words are Spirit and Life. Yes, the Spirit of His words give us Life. Yes, that ABUNDANT LIFE, or fulfilled life. Yes, fulfilled life with godly satisfaction or godly contentment.

May God’s grace be with your spirit. To God be the glory. Amen

 

[SongOnTheWind]

The bible also says that there is none good, not one. Jesus Himself asked a man: Why do you call Me good?

If we were so deserving why would He die for our sins? Please don't misconstrue my words. They are not saying what you have made them out to say.

As for comfort, I said that God prioritises our spiritual condition over our physical one, not that He doesn't care about our comfort at all. Jesus doesn't even seem much worried about what we eat, drink or wear. Our spiritual condition comes first:

Matthew 6:25-33
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

See that? He doesn't want us to worry, as He is not worried. Why? Because He is in control. What are we to prioritise? His kingdom. Are other things less important? Yes. Do other things not matter at all? No. Prioritising is not the same as lack of care or concern. It just means that some things are more important than others.

I hope that clears things up