Hunger and Thirst

Hunger & Thirst
Has there been a time in your life when you have been really hungry? I mean really hungry? Perhaps you had no money to buy food. Perhaps you’re on a trip and counted on someplace to eat along the way but there was none. Perhaps you purposefully chose not to eat because you’re losing weight, or you are doing an intentional fast for spiritual reasons. Seldom do we experience hunger like many people do in the world each day.

The Bible uses the idea of hunger and thirst to teach about craving God’s truth and direction. The most straightforward reference for this is in Mathew 5:6 where we read “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” What does it mean to thirst for righteousness? The Bible tells us we are declared righteous, not by what we have done but by what Christ has already done for us. As we believe that Christ has made us righteous, we live and step out in faith. Living by faith creates a thirst and hunger to know God more deeply, to trust Him more fully, and to seek Him more intentionally and passionately.

The Bible, in describing this hunger and thirst, illustrates it like this: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God (Psalm 42:1,2a).”

Is that the way you describe your hunger and thirst to know God and follow Him? At best, I can only say that describes my intention but not my actions. When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane shortly before His arrest and crucifixion, He asked He disciples to watch and pray. When He came back to them, He found them asleep. He said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Mark 14:38).” I can identify with that, how about you? I desire to seek and follow God but my human weaknesses frequently get in the way.
One time Jesus fed a large crowd and they wanted to follow Him because of it. They said, “Sir, always give us this bread.” But Jesus responded, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty (John 6:32-35).”
Jesus gives life and we can count on Him to deliver as He works through the Holy Spirit. A contemporary Christian song implores God to “Set a fire down in my soul that I can’t contain, and I can’t control. I want more of You God, I want more of You.” That’s a pretty good way to describe the work of the Holy Spirit in us. It’s not about us, it’s about God. The Holy Spirit reminds us of this because He is God and He lives in us!
Closing:
We will hunger and thirst for the rest of our lives, but we know we are declared righteous through Christ.
“Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”  Psalm 107:8,9

 4832 Ponderings:
  • What will you do differently this week as you think about your hunger for righteousness?  How does it affect the people around you?
  • How do we continue lifelong learning spiritually?
  • What role does appetite play in hunger and thirst?  How is that appetite created?

No Comments


Recent

Archive

Categories

no categories

Tags

Abrahams child Accepting salvation Armor of God Bbile Bible study Bible Blessings from God Blesssings Bread of life Child of God Christ-follower Christianity Church Come and see Confustion Daniel Dark Direction Discipleship Don't listen to the lies Don\'t listen to the lies Dont be afaid Easter Empowered to live Fatherhood Fire Forgivness Friendship Furnance Gift of time Gift Give thanks God answers prayers God by our side God cares for us God controls the universe God created me God created the world God created us God fights injustice God fights out battle God given gifts God gives us direction God gives us wisdom God guides me God guides God has plans and a purpose for us God has prepared a place for us God has you God is a perfect father God is always beside me God is good God is in control God is our provider God is pleased God is speaking God is with us God is with you God is working things out for my good. God knows me God looking into our hearts God moves God provides God saves God speaks God takes care of us God trains us God transforming us God walks beside me God whispers God wins God works it out for good for those who love him God works through me God-sized hole God's Story God's Word God's blessings God's blessing God's faithfulness God's light God's love story God's love God's power God's providing God's treasure God\'s Word God\'s blessing God\'s faithfulness God\'s love story God\'s love God\\\'s love Gods child Gods compassion Gods direction Gods guidance Gods love Gods plan Gods promises Gods provision Gods truth Gods way Gods word God Gone Fishing Good life Grace Growing Growth Handwriting on the wall Happiness Help How to Humility I am never alone. I have a dream I need a Savior Jesus gave his life Jesus has saved us Jesus is born Jesus is the answer Jesus is the light of the world Jesus reflection Jesus saves Jesus Job John 15:0-10 John the Baptist Joseph trusted God Joseph Joy Kindness Know me Known Last days Leadership Lemon Let your light shine Life is short Life preserver Light of the World Lonliness Love God Love your neighbor Loved Love MLK Messiah is here New Testament Not Afraid Not alone Our Maker Parenting Patience Pauls prayer Plans Prioritizing Queen of Sheba and King Solomon Radiate Redeemer Respect Ressurection Risen Romans Salvation Satan is roaming the earth Savior Sent Seperation Servant leadership Sheltered Solomon Spiritual Care Spread the word Sweet and Sour Talking with God Test God Thank you Thankful living Thanks Time Troubles Truth Unique Weekly Text Winter Work of the Holy Spirit Year of Jubilee a full life a work in progress abundance acceptance achievers advent adversity all in alone anger answers anticipation anxiety anxious asking God bad things happening to good people battle is won battles being a part of a church family being a real friend being reconciled to God being transformed being whole believing in God believing belongings belong best-selling book of all time blessed blessings blessing building blocks building burdens burning desire to know God busyness by his wounds we are healed calling caring for the oppressed caring for the poor child of the faith choices choosing God choosing faithfulness choosing obedience chosen close to God comfort committed to God committed community company compass concern connections consequences consistent content courageous created by God created in me a new heart cutting through the confusion darkness decide to make Jesus my Savior decisions dentist chair desparation difficult situations direction from God directions for our lives dirty windows disappointment distracted doing what God wants dominoes don't give up don't worry don\'t give up don\'t worry dry bones emotions emptiness empty tomb encouragement end times eternal life evil eyesight failure faithful God faithfulness faithful faith false gods family fear feeding what I want to grow feelings fellowship fighting our giants fill the emptiness in my soul filled by God's spirit filled by God\'s spirit filling the emptiness filling the empty spot finances finding healing finding my way finding peace finding satisfaction focused on God for God so loved the world forgiveness forgivenss forgiven forgive fortress freedom friend frustration generous giver getting lost gifts giving our heart to God giving stuff away giving to God good news of the gospel good news good shepherd goodness got your back gratitude grief growing closer to God growing in christ growing our faith guidance guilt hard times having faith he took our punishment hearing God heart heaven hiding honor hopeless hope hospitality how can I find satisfaction hunger hungry identity in control in exile issues jealousy journey judgment keep praying knock and the door will be opened knowing the truth known by God lack of hope lack of purpose lamp unto my feet lent life goals life light for my path light of life lightening storms light like God lining up with God listening to God listening to the Holy Spirit listen lonely look at the birds losing a child loss lost in the fog lost sheep loud voices spouting lies. love God love people loving each other making decisions making the right choice map maturing in our faith meaning of life meaningless mediocre meditation memorizing scripture memory mission molded by God money more and more moving forward mysteries navigating tough times need direction never alone never understand new life new thing no fear no good witches no hiding from God no wasted time not being destroyed by our problems not crushed nothing is impossible for God obedience obedient obeying God open our heart our Savior is born our choice our dash our forever home our heart our last day is already decided our lives are blown apart our soul overwhelmed packing pain passion for God paying conseuquences paying it forward peace perseverance persistent widow personal relationship with God personality powerful God praise prayer priorities problems on all sides process prodigal promises promise prospering protection provider psalm 139 psalm 23 purpose putting God first questions for God questions rain storms rainstorm reading the Bible real life real peace real presence rebellion redeemption redeption refresh relationship with God relationships relationship renew repentance rescue rest right priorities road to emmausau sadness sad safe salcation salt satan satisfaction second chances seek and find self care self-centeredness selling my soul servant heart service share it share the story sharing shine sins forgiven sin sluggish social media sold out to God solid rock spirit of God spiritual eyes spiritual family spiritual weather spring is coming sproprospering stars in the sky stepping out in faith storyteller strengthen my hand stress struggles struggle struggling with God stuck studying Gods word submit suicide suitcase sunrise taking action on growing faith taking care of each other teamwork the Bible the God spot the Holy Spirit the Way the army of God the children of God the condition of our hearts the light the right way the tough stuff the truth of God the truth the word of God thirst thoughts thruth tithing todo lists together tough times transformation traveling trials trouble true north trusting God trust tunnel vision two by two understanding God vision wait wandering away from God wandering from God wanted wash clean wasting time watering the crops water we are the work of his hands what does God want me to do what if he hadn't come what is right and good in the sight of the Lord when tragedy strikes white as snow why do bad things happen to good people willing spirit wisdom wish list witness wornout worries and concerns worrying worshipping God worship worth it yes from God you and your household you are what you eat