What kind of crazy mind draws a line from Mick Jagger to Brennan Manning to Jesus Christ? That’s the kind of mind this would be Soul Doctor has! Jagger screamed, “I can’t get no, Satisfaction….” (Do you hear the distorted guitar and drums?) Manning wrote “All I want is You, Senor (Christ); all I want is you.” This morning as I read Manning and meditated on that phrase the thought floated through my mind, “All the coveting, all the lust, what I’ve really yearned for is You, Jesus. You are what really satisfies.”
“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:2a) Bread represents that which sustains life and brings real satisfaction. Ultimately, Christ is the Giver and Sustainer of life. (See John 1:3, 4 and Hebrews 1:3.) Bethlehem is the house of bread. What we all profoundly crave is that true House of Bread, the spiritual Bethlehem, where we deeply encounter the Living Christ.
I remember years ago hearing Billy Graham say that in each person there is a God shaped vacuum that nothing else can fill. But we desperately try to fill it with sex, possessions, drugs, partying etc. There is a great deal of truth in that statement. In our brokenness caused by original sin that yearning for God is distorted, muted, twisted. What is left inside of us is an undifferentiated, deep yearning for something. Much of the inner fuel that drives addictions comes from this yearning. I believe it drives many who are neglecting their families trying to make a name for themselves. “If only I reach the top of the company this yearning will be satisfied.” “If only I get that 3,500 square foot house I will feel good about myself.” “If only I score with that babe/hunk life will be cool.” “If I can just earn that PhD and get published my life will count.” “If I can just get another hit of smack this burning in my soul will be numbed for awhile.”
Some of these things are good. Some are evil and destructive. But none of them is the bread of life. None of them really satisfy.
“When I'm drivin' in my car, and a man comes on the radio, he's tellin' me more and more
about some useless information, supposed to fire my imagination. I can't get no, oh no no no. Hey hey hey, that's what I say.” (Satisfaction, Jagger and Richards)
Madison Avenue draws us to spend on that which is not bread. You can “get it all” but it won’t bring “no satisfaction”!
The Soul Doctor will leave you with the lyrics of a different song. My prayer is this will help you find that true Bethlehem where the deepest craving of your soul will be really satisfied. Graham Kendrick is not as well known as Jagger and Richards. But he may well be richer in the true riches. He wrote, “All I once held dear, built my life upon, All this world reveres and wars to own; All I once thought gain I have counted loss, Spent and worthless now compared to this. Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You There is no greater thing. You're my all, You're the best, You're my joy, my righteousness, And I love You Lord. Now my heart's desire is to know You more, To be found in You and know as Yours, To possess by faith what I could not earn All surpassing gift of righteousness Oh to know the power of Your risen life, And to know You in Your sufferings; To become like You in Your death, my Lord, So with You to live and never die.”
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