February 16

Morning

I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. — Phil 4:11 BSB

These words show us that contentment is not something that comes naturally to us. “Weeds grow quickly.” Covetousness, discontent, and grumbling come as easily to people as weeds to the ground. No one needs to plant thorns or weeds—they appear on their own, since they belong to the earth. Similarly, no one has to teach people to complain—they do it naturally without instruction.

But the valuable things in life must be cultivated. If we want wheat, we must plow and sow; if we desire flowers, we need a garden and the care of a gardener. Likewise, contentment is like a heavenly flower, and if we want it, we must work to cultivate it. It won’t grow naturally within us. Only the new nature that God has given us can produce true contentment, and even then, we must carefully nurture and cultivate the grace that God has planted in our hearts.

Paul said, “I have learned to be content”—which means he didn’t always know how. It took him effort and struggle to master this great truth. No doubt, he thought at times that he had learned it, only to find himself failing. When he finally could say, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances,” he was an old man, imprisoned in Nero’s dungeon in Rome.

We should be willing to go through the same struggles as Paul if that means we too can reach such a high level of contentment. Don’t expect to learn contentment without discipline. It doesn’t come naturally—it’s a grace that must be acquired over time. We all know this from experience. Brother, silence that grumble, even though it’s natural, and keep working diligently in the School of Contentment.

Evening

You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold Your manna from their mouths, and You gave them water for their thirst. — Neh 9:20 BSB

Too often, we forget the Holy Spirit, and that is both foolish and ungrateful. He deserves our attention because He is good—supremely good. As God, He is essentially good, sharing in the triple declaration of “Holy, holy, holy” that rises to the Triune Jehovah. He is perfectly pure, full of truth and grace.

He is good in His kindness—gently bearing with our stubbornness, working in our rebellious hearts, bringing us to life when we were spiritually dead, and lovingly nurturing us for heaven. How generous, how forgiving, how patient is this Holy Spirit of God!

He is good in His work. Everything He does is supremely good. He gives us good thoughts, prompts good actions, reveals good truths, applies good promises, helps us achieve good, and leads us to good results. There is no spiritual good in all the world that He is not the source and sustainer of. And heaven itself will be full of saints made perfect by His work.

He is good in His role—whether He is comforting, teaching, guiding, sanctifying, bringing life, or interceding, He fulfills His role with goodness, bringing the greatest blessings to the church of God. Those who follow His lead become good, those who listen to His voice do good, and those who live under His power receive good. Let’s respond to such a good person with gratitude. Let us honor His presence, and worship Him as God over all, blessed forever. Let us recognize our need for His power by seeking Him in all we do. Let us seek His help every hour and avoid grieving Him. And let us speak of His goodness whenever we have the chance. The church will only thrive when it takes the Holy Spirit seriously. He is so good and kind that it’s a deep sorrow that we often grieve Him through our neglect and lack of attention.