With

 Skye Jethani wrote a book I highly commend to your reading.  It is simply titled with. The premise of the author is that we typically find four types of Christians.  The first group is comprised of those who live life under God. Their emphasis is on God’s divine will and appeasing Him through behaviors—“either in the form of rituals or morality.”[1]  The second group includes those who live life over God.  Their emphasis is on applying Scripture and godly principles, which are useful for controlling the world and life.[2]  Those who live life from God characterize the third group.  They are highly self-preoccupied.  Under the banner of “the health and wealth gospel” these adherents see God as a divine genie that is eager to grant their desires.[3]  The fourth group is made up of those who live life for God.  Life is all about staying on mission: sacrificing, achieving, serving, working to accomplish tasks (evangelism, discipleship, etc).[4]

 Meditation
Revelation 21:3—Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:  Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.
 
Each of these four views has merit.  Certainly we are to fear God and to live under His authority and commands.  His principles do work when applied to life. He does want to bless us.  We are called to sacrifice, work and even to expect suffering for His Name.  Unfortunately our tendency as humans is to be unbalanced, to take our view to the exclusion of what should be most important—life with God!  

The Apostle Paul wrote, “But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.  More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:7,8a).   Just as we learn from John in Revelation, that God’s future plan is to permanently dwell with His people, so we see Paul’s observation that knowing Christ is foremost.  What is supreme is spending time with the Savior!   In my own life, I find this to be true.  I am most fulfilled, most satisfied, and most effective when I am simply walking in fellowship with Him.  

Are you satisfied with God?  Is He your sufficiency? Are you with Him?  Or are you overly focused on: not breaking His rules, applying controlling principles, gaining something from Him, or achieving approval by always staying on task?  The former leads to peace and fulfillment the latter leaves us unsatisfied because our view of our Father is distorted.   Let’s resolve to live with Him in balance and in joy!
 
Inspiration
Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above seeing and savoring God.—John Piper in God Is the Gospel
 
©2014 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)
 
[1]Skye Jethani , with, (Nashville:  Thomas Nelson, 2011), 37.
[2]Ibid, 51.
[3]Ibid, 101.
[4]Ibid, 84,101.