Scripture for Today: Psalms 145:15-16  “The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time.  You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”

Pigs are disgusting.  My apologies to Babe and Wilbur.  But they make a royal mess, rooting around and wallowing in the mud.  They make disgusting grunting noises and they stink.

What is great about a pig is that they eat just about anything.  They are not picky and are easily satisfied, even with food that is nasty and spoiled.  And I will say it, they taste good.  We do not eat a lot of pork but we will have the occasional pork roast or ribs smothered in BBQ sauce.

In the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, there is a pigsty.  This young man had traded the comfort of his Father’s presence for the pleasures the world had to offer.  He ended up feeding pigs their scraps.  He finally comes to his senses and returns to his Father.

Our verse for today tells us where true satisfaction can be found.  What comes from His hand brings satisfaction.  The problem comes when we turn to the world for that satisfaction.  We mistakenly think that the pleasures the world offers will somehow meet our desires when nothing is further from the truth.  Like the Prodigal Son, we end up with the pigs, mindlessly eating the scraps.

So many are deluded and living contentedly with scraps in the pigsty when they could be dining at their Father’s table.  So many do not “come to their senses.”  Our Heavenly Father gives good gifts that satisfy our deepest and sometimes unconscious desires.  His open hand is waiting to give to those who look to Him in faith.

It is only You, Lord, that satisfies.

Scripture for Today:  Jeremiah 17:9  “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

When I see the form of a heart, I sure do not think of wickedness.  I think of romance.  I think of love.  I think of passion.  It is a beautiful symbol of what I like to think of as the best in human nature.

In the Bible, the heart is the seat of all our emotions and of our will.  It is what motivates and drives us.  When our hearts are right, that is a good thing.  When our hearts are rebellious, we get ourselves in big trouble!

I have often been quite sure about what I have wanted.  Then, when I have managed to receive it, I find that I did not want it after all.  That makes me think of the dog who chases after a car.  He has no clue what to do with it once he catches up to it!

My heart deceives me.  It will convince me that I will never be happy until this or that circumstance changes.  My heart will tell me that I will never be satisfied until I have a certain something.  But I have seen that the anticipated fulfillment is just not there.  In fact, after getting what I wanted, I sometimes am more unhappy.

The only One who really knows my heart is the Lord.  He searches it and tries it.  As my Creator, He knows what I really want and what will really make me happy.  I do not even know.  I think I do, but I do not.  The world is quick to say, “Just follow your heart.”  Embracing that philosophy is a dangerous idea.  My heart is wicked, prideful and selfish.  Better that I follow His heart.

Scripture for Today:  John 4:13  Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

I love the image of water that Jesus uses.  Jesus is called the Living Water.  In French this is a bit of a problem to translate literally.  Many Americans translate this as “l’eau de vie” or “water of life.”   It should work, except this is the name of a common liquor in France.  Ooops.

Water is essential to life and so is Jesus!  He offers water completely different than what is found in the wells of this world.  The Samaritan woman to whom Jesus was speaking was looking to satisfy her thirst in various relationships with men.   But it wasn’t working.

The water that the world offers must contain a trace of salt as it just makes one want more.  Whether it be personal relationships, possessions, power or prestige, we are left wanting more.  It does not satisfy the thirst.  But Jesus can.  That is because He has made us and He knows better than we do how to satisfy our deepest desires.

My thirst for significance, for meaningful relationship, and for contentment are all found in the water of His indwelling Spirit!  It is a source that never dries up and will continue throughout eternity.  Isaiah 55:1 is the great invitation, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters…”  He is so good to be all that is needed, not only for existence, but for life that is abundant.  I love this old hymn that says,  “Fill my cup, Lord.  I lift it up, Lord.  Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.”  And He does!