JULY THEME – “Seeing Ebenezer- “Hitherto Hath The Lord Helped Us” From God’s Perspective”
Join us in prayer and celebration as Belmont Baptist Church celebrates our Year of Jubilee, marking fifty years of God’s amazing faithfulness and looking forward with grateful hearts to all He has yet to do.
BEATS FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART
WHEN GOD BECOMES YOUR GREATEST NEED, HE BECOMES YOUR GREATEST TREASURE
Part Two: Learning to Delight in God Himself
Psalm 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Yesterday we learned that desperation for God is not a weakness—it is one of the greatest evidences of spiritual life. The empty soul cries out because it has discovered that nothing on earth can satisfy what only God can fill. But God never intends for His children to remain merely desperate. He brings us through desperation into delight. He answers our cry not simply by changing our circumstances but by revealing more of Himself. This is one of the greatest transformations in the Christian life. At first we seek God because we need His help. As we grow, we discover that His greatest gift is not His help—it is His presence. We begin praying less, “Lord, fix this,” and more, “Lord, don’t let me lose sight of You.” We discover that Christ is not merely the answer to life’s greatest questions; He is life’s greatest treasure. The greatest miracle God performs is not always changing our circumstances. Often it is changing our affections until we desire Him more than the things for which we once prayed.
God Desires to Become More Than Your Helper—He Desires to Become Your Portion
Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly reminds His people that He Himself is their inheritance. When the land of Canaan was divided among the tribes of Israel, the tribe of Levi received no territory. Humanly speaking, it appeared they had been overlooked. Yet God said something astonishing: “I am thy part and thine inheritance.” They possessed what every other tribe truly needed but could never purchase. David understood this truth when he declared, “The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance.” Asaph echoed the same testimony when he wrote, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” The mature believer eventually discovers that having Christ is greater than having everything else without Him. The soul finally rests when it realizes that the greatest blessing God can ever give is God Himself.
The Lord Often Removes Lesser Dependencies So We Will Lean Completely Upon Him
Most of us do not naturally cling to Christ when life is comfortable. We tend to lean upon our health while we have it, our finances while they are secure, our abilities while they remain strong, and our plans while everything unfolds according to schedule. Yet because God loves us, He sometimes gently removes the supports we have mistaken for our foundation. He is never cruel. He is never careless. He is never indifferent to our pain. Rather, like a loving Father teaching a child to walk, He loosens our dependence upon temporary things so we will discover the security of His everlasting arms. Many of the greatest saints testified that they knew Christ most intimately during seasons they would never have chosen. Their deepest valleys became the places where they experienced His sweetest fellowship. The trial itself was not the treasure. Christ’s presence in the trial became the treasure.
The More Clearly We See Christ, the More Freely We Release the World
The Christian life is not primarily about trying harder to love the world less. It is about seeing Jesus more clearly. When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, everything else changed. When John beheld the glorified Christ on the Isle of Patmos, he fell at His feet as dead. When Paul encountered the risen Christ on the Damascus Road, every earthly ambition suddenly became insignificant compared to knowing Him. No one who truly beholds the glory of Christ walks away unchanged. The world loses much of its attraction when our hearts become captivated by Someone infinitely greater. This is why we must spend daily time in God’s Word—not merely searching for information but beholding the Savior. Every page of Scripture reveals another facet of His beauty, another evidence of His faithfulness, another reason to trust Him more completely.
Nothing Can Steal the Treasure That Is Hidden in Christ
Everything this world offers comes with uncertainty. Health can disappear. Careers can end. Relationships can change. Possessions can be lost. Even our strongest bodies eventually weaken. But Christ never changes. The treasure hidden in Him cannot rust, decay, be stolen, or diminish with time. The believer whose heart rests in Christ possesses something death itself cannot touch. This explains why imprisoned apostles sang at midnight. It explains why martyrs entered the flames praising God. It explains why faithful believers throughout history could lose everything yet still declare, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” They had discovered a treasure that suffering could not steal.
A missionary serving in a remote village was once asked, “What did you give up to follow Christ?” He quietly smiled and replied, “I have never given up anything worth keeping.” To those around him, he had surrendered comfort, wealth, opportunity, and recognition. Yet from heaven’s perspective, he had exchanged temporary treasures for eternal riches. That is exactly how every believer eventually sees life. Following Christ may cost us much on earth, but whatever we surrender is insignificant compared to the privilege of knowing Him. As the apostle Paul wrote, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.”
God never intended to become merely one important part of your life. He desires to become your life. He does not simply meet your deepest need. He becomes your deepest desire. When Christ becomes the treasure of your heart, circumstances no longer determine your joy because your joy is anchored in Someone who never changes. The greatest evidence of spiritual maturity is not how much we know about God, nor how much we accomplish for God, but how satisfied we have become in God Himself. May we learn to say with David, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Not because life is easy. Not because every prayer has been answered. But because when we have Him, we possess the One Treasure that satisfies forever.
Warfare Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me enough not to leave me satisfied with the things of this world. Forgive me for allowing temporary treasures to compete for first place in my heart. Open my eyes to behold the surpassing beauty of Your Son. Remove every idol that quietly steals my affection from Christ. Teach me to delight in Your presence more than comfort, success, recognition, or earthly security. In seasons of blessing, keep me humble. In seasons of difficulty, keep me close. May my greatest joy be knowing You, my greatest confidence be trusting You, and my greatest treasure be Jesus Christ alone. Let my life declare that You are enough. In the precious name of my Savior, Amen.
Daily Challenge
Today, before asking God for anything, spend a few quiet moments simply worshiping Him for who He is. Read one chapter from the Gospels slowly, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the beauty, majesty, humility, compassion, and glory of Jesus Christ. Then throughout the day, whenever your heart is tempted to find security in something temporary, quietly pray: “Lord Jesus, You are my greatest need, and therefore You are my greatest treasure.” As you continue beholding Him, you will discover that the deepest satisfaction of the Christian life is not found in what Christ gives—but in Christ Himself.
THURSDAY’S PRAYER NEEDS
Tom Witcher’s Memorial Service Saturday 2:00 PM @ Belmont
Rob Davis – cancer
Mary Williams – Rehab for Broken Hip
Kim McClain’s Mother