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Topic: Hunger (11/08/04)
TITLE: All-Consuming Need By Karen Treharne 11/15/04 |
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And yet … do we really know what hunger is?
The fact is that very few of us living in modern conditions of life know what it is to be really hungry or really thirsty. At least not for food or drink. We do, however, hunger after worldly pleasures. Those things of Satan that tempt us to make bad choices which can destroy the blessings God has planned for our well being.
The truth is that the Enemy has filled this world with hungers of every sort to entice men and women, including the people of God. Hungers of lust, power, money and fame seem inviting after the monotony of day-to-day living. But Satan’s way is a trap. It always looks good on the outside, but inside is sin, destruction and ultimately death … eternal death. Our Father, on the other hand, has called us to rid ourselves of all the wrong hungers and desires that are against Him, and to “first seek the Kingdom of God”.
As Christians, we need to yearn for righteousness - make it our consuming desire. In Matthew 5:6, the gospel reads, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
In this beatitude, Jesus is not using “hunger” or “thirst” to mean the emptiness or dryness we may feel between meals, but a hunger or thirst that seemingly can never be satisfied. One like a physical appetite that, even after a full meal with plenty of food and drink, continues to make us feel as if we could still eat and drink more. The craving for righteousness is a continuous state of pursuing holiness, emulating perfection, or growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. And He promises us that we will be blessed … indeed - we will be FILLED ... when we strive to be like Him.
Hunger and thirst are appetites God gives humans to make us aware of a need. Hunger after God’s Word and His attributes is the spiritual appetite God gives Christians to make us aware of spiritual needs. Together with His loving gift of faith and His indwelling Spirit, we are able to recognize and be thankful for our longing to become holy.
So from now on when we are nourishing others, let us be all-consuming in our own effort to be fed. Our desire for godly righteousness, so we might be prepared for living in God’s Kingdom. And while we are contributing time, energy and money feeding the physical hunger of those less fortunate, let us pray that their spiritual hunger may be satisfied with a desire to know Christ and to invite Him into their hearts for the sake of His righteousness.