Alive in Christ - Charles Price

i'm happiest when i'm curled up with a good book...

one that speaks to my soul.

 "manna was God's provision of food for Israel during the forty years of their wandering in the wilderness. They had been delivered from Egypt with the purpose of entering into Canaan, 'the land flowing with milk and honey,' as quickly as possible. within weeks of leaving Egypt they were out of food, going around in circles, the novelty of their freedom from slavery was over...

the Lord Jesus Christ very clearly identified this provision of manna with himself. I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world... I am the bread of life.

Although the Lord Jesus identified it with Himself, it did not satisfy the people. It was their biggest source of dissatisfaction and grumbling during their forty years of their wandering. In eating it they were humbled and caused to hunger, fed again with manna, and soon hungry yet again.

yesterday's supply is inadequate for today. He gave to us yesterday what met our needs yesterday but 'his compassions never fail. They are new every morning.' God gave the manna as a fresh provision every morning that would meet their need for that day. The next day's supply would be available tomorrow.

in the wilderness God sustained Israel with the manna but he never satisfied Israel with the manna, for they were to be satisfied only in Canaan. God's purpose for Israel was not to get them out of Egypt, but to take them into Canaan. His purpose is more than delivering you from guilt and sin, it is to get you into the condition where the Holy Spirit can reproduce the character of Jesus in you. God will sustain you with the presence of his Spirit, but he will never satisfy you outside of his fullness.

Unless we are prepared to go all the way with God and live in complete surrender to his authority, in obedience to his will, and in the fullness of his Spirit, we will never be satisfied with Christ. We will be dissatisfied and uncomfortable. Everyday there will be the taste of honey on your lips as the Holy Spirit will bear witness that you are a child of God, and you will either out of disappointment and frustration long for his fullness or you will begin to hate his presence in your life and do all to resist him.

The presence of manna every morning was a symbol of the fact that God will never let his people go. It was his covenant. Though they were faithless, he still provided the witness to himself. If God has begun a work in your life he will not rest in his purpose to bring it to completion. But he will not force it on you. You can choose to die in the desert, resisting the Spirit of his witness every morning. The only solution for manna was entering Canaan, where they feasted on the rich provision God intended for them. So many Christians are dissatisfied, bored, empty, living in spiritual poverty, not entering into all God has planned for them..."

the words of Charles Price are giving me life.
I have been somewhat stagnant, restless and complacent these days
but I am reminded to push through, to keep fighting.
to be strong and not fear, for i know the Lord is with me,

and victory is His.

it's time to have faith up against opposition which seems bigger than me, in the midst of fear i am unable to handle, cope, and survive.
it is time to heal.
it is time to learn to be filled by the Lord, to be satisfied in Him, and nothing else
to face the wide gaping hole which no man can meet for me.

Oh Lord, do not merely sustain me, but satisfy my soul!
Let my desires burn refined for You.
Let me want, want the right things.
Do not let me be enslaved, disillusioned, and consumed by my deceitful, idolatrous heart.

Jesus, you are the divine presence, God with us.
Fill my cup.