Hunger and Thirst

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (Mt 5:6 NIV)

Anyone who has visited the vast expanse of Grand Canyon and contemplated hiking below the rim has no doubt read numerous warnings about the perils of conducting such an undertaking without preparation – namely adequate water for a hike of any distance, and salty, electrolyte-replenishing  foods for moderate and longer distance hikes.  The trailheads and main hiking trails of Grand Canyon are well-marked to warn novice hikers that the terrain and climate of Grand Canyon are both unforgiving and unpredictable.  But every year, scores of inexperienced hikers require assisted evacuation from the canyon because they ignored addressing the most basic of their physical survival needs – food and water.  In many cases, sadly, such carelessness is paid for by loss of life.

God promises to fill those who have both a hunger and a thirst for righteousness.  When we refuse to acknowledge our lack of hunger and thirst for righteousness, we are like the ill-prepared hikers who descend into Grand Canyon completely unprepared for their short-term and long-term survival needs.  We jeopardize our spiritual well-being when we ignore our spiritual hunger and thirst.  But when we actively hunger and thirst  for righteousness, Jesus – our Bread of Life – promises to fill us so that we will never be hungry or thirsty.  Jesus said:   ‘I am the bread of life.  He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty’ (Jn 6:35 NIV).

Prayer:  Lord, you promise to fill my spiritual needs so that I hunger and thirst no more.   Make me humble to acknowledge my needs, and grateful for Your immeasurable love and promise to keep me filled.  Amen.

The Blessing of Hunger!

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.  Matthew 5:6 NIV

We were watching some of the Food Network one night around the house and one of our children said, “Daddy, let’s not watch this anymore it makes me hungry.”  I thought that was priceless!  Do your surroundings affect your appetite?  Do the things you see and hear affect what you hunger for?  I’d be inclined to say yes to both of those questions. 

In this statement of blessing Jesus mentions that those who hunger and thirst will be filled but there’s a qualifier!  He’s not saying we need to starve ourselves so that we are really hungry but that we have to hunger for the right things in order to find the fill that we really need.  Our world has a hunger for belonging, for purpose, for being needed.  But the problem seems to be that we mask that hunger with something that only lasts for a moment.  It’s like giving a starving man a snickers bar – he’ll feel ok for a moment but soon enough the hunger is back! 

Jesus says that we are to hunger and thirst for righteousness.  This thirst will lead us to the waters that offer a thirst quenching river of life.  This hunger will find its fill in the meal of Jesus at the table of his word and communion.  Today Jesus calls us to be hungry for him.  As we fill our life today with all that it offers may we find our fill in Jesus.  May we keep coming back to his promises – the very table where our hunger is satisfied .

Prayer: Jesus lead me to the streams of your water.  Whet my appetite with the food from your table today Lord.  AMEN. 

The Chubby Church

Ezekiel 3:1(NIV) - And he said to me, “Son of man eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.”

I have a confession to make.  There is an obesity problem at our house, a really bad problem.  It is really unhealthy, mostly caused by just laziness.  While I may not be in the best shape of my life right now, I am not the problem; it is not my wife or kids either.  It is our dog, he is really overweight.  But the thing is he is always hungry too.  He eats his dog food, drinks leftover milk from around the farm, eats the cat’s food, sometimes from the calf’s trough, just anywhere he can find something to scarf down he will.  He is a farm dog and does not know what a kennel or even leash is.  He has all day free to run and swim and exercise any way that he wants to… he would rather take a nap.  So that is why we have an obesity problem at our house.

As Christians in America our spiritual lives are a lot like that old dog.  We are totally free to take in as much or as little of God’s word (our spiritual food) as we want to.  We are free to listen to Christian music on the radio, attend worship, and maybe even a bible study or devotions.  But are we supposed to just feed Jesus to ourselves and never really digest and use what we are learning? 

God loves each of us and wants us to eat of His word each and every day; it gives us the spiritual energy to live for our eternal lives.  But we must also digest it as a part of ourselves and exercise by living a Christlike life and sharing God’s word with those around us.

 
Prayer:   Jesus thank you for the freedom to eat of your word every day, help me to use your word and my freedom to bless others in my life.   AMEN

Unlimited Mercy

Fortunately for us, God gives unlimited mercy.  We as human begins tend to have a problem with this concept and limit our mercy to others according to the situation.  As usual, God is our example in giving mercy.  Jesus shared this idea in the parable of the unmerciful servant found in Matthew 18:21-35.  When Jesus said we are to forgive (show mercy) seventy-seven times, he meant times without number…not once…not twice…not seven times, but unlimited times.  

Talk about a challenge!  But what a blessing follows that challenge.  In Matthew 5:7, Jesus tells us, “Blessed are the merciful , for they will be shown mercy.”  That means mercy now in this life and mercy forever in heaven.  It’s also very important to remember that mercy is not getting what we deserve  and grace is getting what we don’t deserve. 

Jesus closes the parable in Matthew 18 with the challenge to “forgive your brother from the heart.”  Now that’s real forgiveness.  That’s real mercy – the mercy God wants us to give freely to our brothers and sisters in this world.  It’s the mercy that God showed us when he gave us his son Jesus.  It’s the mercy that Jesus showed us when he went to the cross, knowing he was going to die. 

What if God limited his mercy to us?  We would have a huge problem!  Praise the Lord for blessing us with His mercy. Now let’s be a blessing and show mercy and forgiveness to those around us the way God first showed mercy to us. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your unlimited mercy.  Help us to follow your example and show mercy and forgiveness to others whenever we can.  Thanks for your love.  We love you.  Amen.

Do we deserve the blessing?

Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  

What does it mean to be “poor in spirit?”

Of all of the beatitudes that Matthew provides in the opening of Chapter 5, perhaps this one does the most to show the amazing generosity of our Lord.   

Contrast it, for example, against the other beatitudes, in which the people who are being blessed are mourning or under persecution.  Or they are seeking peace and righteousness, being merciful and pure of heart.

In our human minds, we may rationalize that such folks deserve to be blessed – they have either been treated unfairly or are trying hard to do good things.  But poor in spirit?  This seems to include people who struggle deep in their souls to keep much goodness stored in them.  People who are failing to keep their thoughts pure and their actions good.   Do these people deserve a blessing?  And what kind?   No less than the Kingdom of Heaven?

I must admit that there was a period in my life when I felt my spirit was in a very poor condition. 

But it only makes God seem that much greater when we he reaches out to us when we least deserve it.  Jesus Christ took the action and paid our debt in its entirety.   No matter how poor we have been, or can still sometimes get, we are free to stand before God as his precious children.

Perhaps there is a reason why the “poor in spirit” beatitude is the first one.  All of the ensuing blessings are only possible because Christ first loved us.   

Prayer

 Dear Father.  Thank you for loving me unconditionally.  Please fill up my tank when I weaken in spirit.  Thank you for the rich blessings and the good works you have prepared for me in advance.  Amen.