This summer has been so wonderful that as the start of a new school year approaches we are ready to move on. We have been swimming in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening. We have had road trips, back yard parties, and beach getaways. We are totally satisfied, filled with joyful memories and ready to move on.

This made me think of a few Bible passages that states how Abraham, Isac, David, Joash and Job who all ‘died old and satisfied’ (Job 42:17, CEB,*). They must have lived their lives to the fullest. No wonder they were ready to move on. That’s how we all want to live and die, I think. We want to live and die satisfied. How can we do that?

There are only these five people in the Bible that have been recorded to die old and satisfied. Could we learn something from them? What are the common aspects of their lives? Guess what? They lived very different lives;some were poor, some were rich. Suffering was not out of the picture; they did not have easy lives. How could they then live a full life filled with joy and purpose?

They had one thing in common but that made all the difference: they learned to know God deeply and intimately. They lived their whole lives to the Lord. They were not perfect by all means but they loved and served the Lord with all their might. They did not seek their own will but God’s. And by doing so they lived a full and satisfied life.

How can we do the same? How can we live and die satisfied? By seeking God with all we’ve got. By spending time with Jesus daily. By serving others without seeking our own good. And God will bless us with a life filled with grace, peace, and joy. And we will be ready to move on when the time comes.

 

Gracious God,
Forgive me for seeking satisfaction in wrong places.
Thank you for drawing me back to you.
Thank you for blessing me with your presence.
Show me how I can live and die satisfied in you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What are your ways to live and die satisfied?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you love and serve the Lord with everything you’ve got!

* [As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses to Biblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.]

Image courtesy of Charl Christiani, design Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Faith-filled Fridays, Five Minute Friday and Faith Jam.