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.
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!
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:
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?
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