“Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.”-Psalm 131:2
A newborn has a needy disposition. They are so small, helpless, and fragile, to behave otherwise would be life threatening. If they feel hunger, they cry. If they have a touch of discomfort, they cry. Cold, wet, or stinky…cry. The need or affliction is made known instantly and they will not relent until their needs are met.
King David writes that he has behaved and quieted himself, and his soul is as a weaned child. Newborns live off milk for weeks. Eating around the clock. It’s the responsibility of the mother to provide. However, once the weaning process begins the child must learn to detach himself (or herself) from momma’s milk. This deprivation will introduce discomfort and it is here that the first lessons of sacrifice and discipline begin. The task of learning what you can and cannot have. Similarly, the Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthian church: “And every man striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things….But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” There must be obedience in the life of the Christian. The Holy Spirit can fill us and bring power over sin, power to overcome temptation. God can eradicate carnal sin and absolve committed sin. Yet, that doesn’t liberate us from “fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, and without any sin, yet the devil tempted him. Didn’t Satan know who he was tempting? If Satan came for the Son of God, do you think he is going to bypass you just because you have the Holy Ghost? He tried to tempt Jesus with lust and pride, and he will tempt you with the same. When we are sanctified, we become sons of God, but we are still human. We still have desires, cravings, and appetites that can be perverted and overindulged in. We can work too much, play too much, drink too much. Promote ourselves, bathe in praise, and glory in our triumphs. Justify the thoughts of wickedness, and let those become decisions, which produce habits, which change our character until Satan sets the final trap that causes us to sin. All things must be brought into subjection. We must behave and quiet ourselves. We must move away from being a babe in Christ, always looking to see how God can meet “my need” and become a mature Christian. One who is comfortable with deprivation and sacrifice. Learned in lack. Acquainted with suffering. It seems that this world is made of lust. Always moving from place to place, and asking: “what can you offer me?” What can you offer out of this: relationship, job, subscription, club, etc. They are even going to the church and asking the same. There remain many churches who are foolish enough to answer them. “Churches” who are bent on being whatever their “members” desire, instead of remaining as the pillar and ground of the truth. Instead of preaching the word faithfully.
We must never forget; the Christian life is a Christ-like life. A life of sacrifice, of servanthood, of devotion. While the world is looking for satisfaction by shopping around and trying to get the best offer. The Christian is devoting themselves to the Lord God, trusting that will bring satisfaction. Faithfully abiding in the Lord, believing it will produce the fruit of joy, peace, love, and blessings. Giving to the pruning process and knowing that we must behave, and quiet ourselves to become as a weaned child. Thereby living and walking in the center of God’s will.
