Our Greatest Needs

-October 11, 2023-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 4:19).

Psychologists, sociologists, and philosophers debate the question, what are man’s deepest and most important needs. Even if they came to a consensus, they would they be relatively helpless to meet them. Only God can fully meet our needs for He created us, sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins, and rose again.

I am not a psychologist, nor a sociologist, nor a philosopher; I am just a humble believer in Jesus Christ. I have no titles before my name nor did I attend a theological school. But I believe from the Bible there are three essential needs in the human heart: for love, for forgiveness, and for acceptance. Of course we have other needs, but these are the big three.

• LOVE – Love is the most important, the need to love and be loved. It is the first fruit of fruit of the Spirit. Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Romans 5:8 tells us, “But demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Because God loves us, we can and should love each other.

• FORGIVENESS – Deep down everyone longs to be forgiven, even if they don’t acknowledge it. When a person is unforgiven, they feel hopeless, guilty, worthless, isolated, and lonely. Adam and Eve sinned against God, felt ashamed, and hid themselves from God. He sought them out, clothed their nakedness, provided the blood sacrifice for their sins, and clothed them in animal skins. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:32, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” If we don’t forgive others He won’t forgive us.

• ACCEPTANCE – People long to be accepted for who they are. When we came to Christ, He not only loved us and forgave us, but He accepted as we were. But He did leave us that way, but changed our lives, made us His children, and clothed us in His righteousness. Romans 15:7 says, “Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” None of us a perfect, so we must accept one another, without hesitation or consternation.

Yes, only God can meet our needs, the needs of our hearts for love, forgiveness, and acceptance; and only we as believers in Christ can meet the needs of others fully, deeply, and completely. His love never fails, His forgiveness not comes us short, and His heart never ceases to accept us and embrace us.

Have a blessed day loving and being loved; forgiving and being forgiven; and accepting others and be accepted. Everything else will fall into place, by His abundant mercy and marvelous grace. Stay safe and healthy.

Letting Christ flow through us,

Dean