What Will Satisfy You?
March 5th, 2008 | Michael Q. Pink
“As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.” (Psalm 17:15)
When I read this verse afresh just yesterday, I laughed and smiled. Here’s David, a former shepherd boy, now the King and very prosperous. He has risen from poverty to royalty and yet he says he will only be satisfied when he awakes and sees himself in the likeness of God. In other words, until he sees himself conformed to the likeness of God, not just in some sort of physical resemblance, but truly resembling the image, character and qualities of God, he will not be satisfied. What a goal!
What does that look like and how do we get there? We have a greater volume of Scripture to learn from plus the revelation and teachings of Jesus Christ. We know about the fruit of the Spirit. We can read the Beatitudes. We can study and emulate the life of Christ. We know His image far better.
For me however, it is less about perfecting a check list of known “God qualities” and more about spending time with the Father. Remember Moses? He spent time with God and his very visage was transformed so much he had to wear a veil! Reading David’s words gave me a new goal, one I know I won’t live long enough on earth to achieve. I won’t be satisfied until I awake with His likeness. And everyday between now and then, it will be my supreme pleasure and high honor to pursue God and revel in His presence, all the while being changed in subtle ways I may not notice until one day… that day… when I awake and truly possess His likeness through and through. Care to join me?
Digg This Share This
March 5th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Hello
I think that is the best goal one can set for one’s life,
Thank you
March 5th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Only God can satisfy. As Paul said; you are better than life itself.
Kern
March 5th, 2008 at 8:48 am
My heart went to three scriptures as I read your beautiful article.
Romans 12:1(Amplified Bible)
1I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
John 4:22-24 (The Message)
21-23″Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God’s way of salvation is made available through the Jews. But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter.
23-24″It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”
Matthew 6:33 (Amplified Bible)
33But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
The whole essence of our living should be to worship (our daddy who craves for a more intimate relationship with us as opposed to what we can do for him) and to present our lives as a living sacrifice that is constantly pleasing unto God. But unfortunately, we find ourselves reversing Matt 6:33 and constantly pursuing after things that should be pursuing after us when we seek God first and his righteousness and and allow his whole being overshadow ours. Like David also said in Psalm 63, God’s loving-kindness is better than LIFE itself. God help us all and we can only get better when the truth finds its roots in our hearts.
Thanks for sharing Michael. I’m always encouraged by your articles and my heart craves to worship God with everything that lies within me.
Love always,
Eskor
March 5th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Very good, Mike. Oh that we act like JESUS, for we are Jesus walking this earth, doing what Jesus would do if he were here……doing what He did when He was here. Only by the Holy Spirit’s power can we accomplish this. Thanks for the encouragement to spend time with Him.
March 5th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Michael.
thanks for this thought and verse. it also struck me how many of my brothers just expect to wake up one morning with His likeness. Just the Spirit’s miraculous transformation with no effort or discipling on their part.
blessings,
bill
March 5th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Amen –That is the best business bottom line that one can have! That is the goal, but as Bill says, it can’t happen just like that –one has to submit and sit at the feet of the Master daily and learn to listen to His heart and share His joys and sorrows and then be set aside and go through the wilderness walk etc etc…. Then, and then alone will God gill His with all we require to be in the likeness of His Son…. Blessings Patricia
March 5th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Mr Pink.
Thank you so much for this email. Now I have a new long & short term goals. This is incredible! God bless & keep sending me emails they are very encouraging.
Katina
Charlotte, NC
March 5th, 2008 at 10:07 am
What a great reminder for all of us. The focus can easily get on getting the “win” and what else can I go after to create revenue. But, the Father’s presence always supersedes those things and puts all into perspective. Ah, that I may seek him first and rest in him!
March 5th, 2008 at 10:09 am
I, too, am on that journey. Long ago God gave me the verse in John “if you believe, you will see the glory of God.” And then later, and repeatedly, “But we all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are being changed into His image.” So every day I tell my spirit, “Worship the Lord”. Since my spirit has to do what I say, and since we are only changed by being in His presence, God is working it in my life all the time. It is a life-long journey, but He says, “seek ye first….and all these things will be added”. If I believe His Word, and I do, then, as I set myself to remain in His presence throughout each day, I am being changed.
I like That!!!
March 5th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Absolutely! I desire to be so intimate with my Father that I waft the fragrance of Christ everywhere I go - in my home, in my business, in my church and social activities.
Thanks for your inspiring words each day!
March 5th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Blessings Michael, etal,
The Word of the Lord is transforming. As you talked about with Zig Ziggler it’s not only about having information (which IS key to the next part) it’s about the transformation. I love all the tools I get from you and other words and THE Word that I recieve but alas they are only tools on my belt until I pick them up and go after the “thing” that I have obtained. We need to resond to the word with follow through. I ecco what others say. . . it’s about relationship it’s about being with Him. You know when the teens are good friends they start looking like eacg other they reflect the appearance of the “group” they hang with. I want to look like, from the inside out the Love of my life Yeshua my Jesus!! Thank you again.
feeling the tectonic plates
shifting in my heart and life
Darla \o/
March 5th, 2008 at 11:29 am
I heard today about a pastor who said - “You want what I’ve got? Just hang around me - it will get ALL over you!” Isn’t that true for our Heavenly Father and the Lord as well as we spend time with them in reading their revelation to us, and praying over it.
What dominates our thoughts, dominates us.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:47 am
amen. it was so nice to read this for this morning. it has been my desire for sometime to be one with Christ as He is with the father. your comments about moses and the passage of scripture are so refreshing to hear. so often christians get so caught up in scripture, debating it intentions that it becomes a hopeless exercise in their knowledge and the desire of our Lord just gets lost.
thank you for your insight, i have enjoyed each one.
March 5th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
AMEN AND AMEN!
March 5th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Ditto! These emails are such a blessing and the insight each person shares is invaluable. I’ve learned so much more than I contribute -
Blessings to all!
March 5th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Yes how wonderful, just what I am striving after, I have moved forward in my Christian life so much more and feel so much closer to the Lord since working a 12 step spiritual programme. Thank you everyone and especially Tami, I reiterate your sentiments entirely
March 6th, 2008 at 1:07 am
I will love to join you. I am determine not to rest until it happen. Thanks for the reminder.
Peace
March 6th, 2008 at 5:45 am
Once again, I want to thank all of you for your kind, thoughtful and uplifting comments. I get strength and life from your words!
March 6th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Excellent passage and commentary! Thanks!
March 6th, 2008 at 11:14 am
This is what I long for also, thank you for sharing this in a powerful way.
March 6th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Thank you for this Michael I am very aware of my walking closer with Jesus every hour of every day hopefully and keeping in close communication with the Holy Spirit, like Tami I want the sweet fragrance of Jesus to permeate all that I do and all those around me
Blessings
Helen
March 6th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Yes
He is all because He is GOD. Nothing else and no one else matters. Only Him. He is glorified in us and through us. We will live to the praise of His glory.
Be blessed
March 19th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
This is soooo….True!! Let HIM be ALL you Desire and He will give you the Desires of your HEART!