We express our hunger for God in
many ways, especially during tender moments of corporate worship... Goosebumps
all aglow. Real hunger for God is described in the Beatitudes:”Blessed are
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” In
the Greek, this passage expresses a dichotomy between the two states of
“unquenchable desire” and “complete satisfaction”, which can only exist
simultaneously in the Kingdom, portraying a deep consuming growing hunger,
abundantly satisfied yet never relieved... the hunger growing with each
filling. “Spiritually prosperous are
the ones who continually crave right standing with God, because they themselves
shall be filled so as to be
completely satisfied, while ever wanting more.” (Matt. 5:6, John’s translation).
This should be the “normal” for serious saints... people with panting souls...
So... just how hungry are we? Are these expressions of our hunger for God
indicative of passionate hunger or spiritual blindness? How we spend our time
is a good prognosticator of where our heart is, telling the real story of our
passion for God. Am I passionately pursuing God in worship, prayer, and study
of His word, mind set on things above... preoccupied with God and His Kingdom
24/7? Do I have righteous fruit bearing witness to my hunger for God? Or, am I
a Sunday Wonder, preoccupied with watching TV, playing with my toys, enjoying
the pleasures of Earth-Life while pursuing “My Best Life Now.” Talk is Cheap,
as they say, but God isn’t buying: “Seek My face ... Draw near to Me, and I
will draw near to you.” Sounds like a command...
A heart set on the cares, pleasures, desires and riches of Earth-Life is
not hungry for God, and will soon suffocate the Kingdom-Life in these pursuits:
To be forewarned is to be forearmed. When we pursue the one pursuing us... we
run into His open arms. Without pursuit... without hunger, we are running away
from God’s pursuit... running from the great lover of our soul... running
toward lover’s less wild. We deceive ourselves if we think lip service will
fool God... that Goosebumps are some kind of affirmation of our passion for Him...
that professed hunger without the accompanying works and fruit demonstrating
real hunger is somehow OK. Faith without works is dead... ditto hunger. Saints,
it is time for some Self examination... for God is saying: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and
opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
Passion for God, hungering and thirsting for Him... white-hot pursuit of Him, opens
this door into sweet communion with our Lord... koinonia, fellowship with
God...
AS
THE DEER PANTS FOR STREAMS OF WATER
SO
MY SOUL PANTS FOR YOU
MY
GOD
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