Blessed are the Hungry

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Psalm 42 NIV
For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. 1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

The Psalmist equated his desire for God to that of a deer panting for water. I have never observed a deer panting for water, but I have observed a dog that has been out running and amusing itself come panting and thirsty for water. Then with great exuberance it has attacked a bowl of water.
Psalm 42 NIV
For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. 1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
The Psalmist equated his desire for God to that of a deer panting for water. I have never observed a deer panting for water, but I have observed a dog that has been out running and amusing itself come panting and thirsty for water. Then with great exuberance it has attacked a bowl of water.
When was the last time you felt that same need and desire for God? That is our subject today as we continue in the Beatitudes with on this Palm Sunday.
Matthew 5:6 NIV
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Pray
Righteousness is a big word. It is not a word we hear in our society much. The only time I can recall anyone using it outside of church was to say that someone had performed a “righteous act.” In other words, they meant that person had the right to do what they did. It was a “right action.” However, the righteousness spoken of in the Bible has a lot more to it than that. So let us look at what is meant by biblical righteousness for a moment. Let us define,

What is “righteousness”?

One of the greatest challenges confronting believers today is to communicate the message of Christ in terms that everyday people can understand. Words like “Righteousness” () have become unrecognizable to many in our culture, and even to many in the church.
Yet it’s hard to talk about the gospel—and virtually impossible to understand Romans—without coming to terms with the word “righteousness”. In fact, the New Testament uses the term in one form or another no less than 228 times, at least 40 times in Romans. What, then, does “righteousness” mean and how does the gospel reveal “the righteousness of God” (v. 17)?
The word “righteous” goes back to a base , meaning “move in a straight line.” Thus, “righteous” (rightwise) means “in the straight (or right) way.” Used with reference to morality, “righteous” means living or acting in the right way.
But what is the “right” way? In our society, people commonly say that everyone must determine what is right for oneself. However, Scripture offers a different standard—indeed, the ultimate standard of rightness or “righteousness,” is God Himself. God’s character reveals what is absolutely right. He is the measure of moral right and wrong.
He is also the source of right living. It’s important to understand that righteousness involves more than just determining whether or not one has lived up to the perfect standard that God sets. The fact is, no one has except Jesus (; ). Thus, in a legal sense, all of us stand guilty before God. We are all “unrighteous.” We have all “sinned” (literally, “missed the mark”).
But the message of Romans is that God has done and is doing everything that needs to be done to restore things to the way He originally intended—to the right way. For example, He dealt with sin through Jesus’ death on the cross (5:6–11), and He transfers the righteousness of Christ to those who trust in Him (5:1–2). As believers, we can enjoy a restored relationship with God.
I am going to get into that more later, but for right now I wanted you to see what is meant by “righteousness.” We see it is right living, i.e. living in the standards set by God based on who God is. Not only is it the standards we live by, but it goes beyond that to having a right relationship. That right relationship begins with God, but then extends to each other. It is never a matter of only a vertical relationship, but also a horizontal relationship.
I had seen this portrayed through the image of the cross since I was a little girl. The cross consisted of a tall vertical wood beam extending from the ground and reaching to the sky signifying our relationship to God. However, there was a horizontal cross beam upon which Christ’s arms extended out to encompass all humankind. Just as His offering a relationship to all people, we in love should be willing to do the same.
Now let’s look at some scriptures and what they tell us about “righteousness.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We on our own, cannot achieve righteousness. However, to have a relationship with God we needed to be made righteous. It was so important to God to have that relationship with us that He sent His only Son to provide for us the righteousness we needed.
Romans 3:21–24 NIV
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:21
God provided for us to know of this law of His righteousness. He gave us the Law and sent prophets to share of its importance. Now as Christians, the Holy Spirit lives within us leading us in righteous living (basically, the law now resides within us). However, even with that we are unable to obtain the level or righteousness needed to be in relationship with God. Once again, we see that Christ is our means to do so. Righteous and just are interchangeable. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, when we place our faith in Christ we are justified or declared just in order to have a relationship with God. We also see that it was never meant for one people group alone. The Jews were not meant to be God’s only people. They were just the ones God chose to use to reveal Himself to the world.
Galatians 5:4–6 NIV
4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Galatians
Here is where we see the fact that it involves relationship. Righteousness is more than just living by a set of standards. What happens on the outside does nothing to rectify the inside of us. The Pharisees were really good at practicing outward cleanliness. They had a whole routine for cleansing their outer body. However, their attitudes and expectations of others showed a lack of love for God and their fellow Jewish brother and sisters. Obeying laws does not make us righteous. It is only through a relationship with Jesus Christ that we can be declared righteous.
Psalm 111:2–3 NIV
2 Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. 3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.
Righteousness never changes. It is eternal. Which is why we of our own volition are unable to be righteous. Unfortunately, we are not so consistent or stable in our actions. The truth is, if we are honest with ourselves, there is a bit of hypocrisy in all of us. So we can never be declared righteous on our own merit.
Now that we have a better idea of what “righteousness” is and some of how we obtain righteousness, let us look more closely at what Jesus is saying in this verse found in .
Matthew 5:6 NIV
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Why does Jesus equate righteousness with “hunger” and “thirst”?

Why does Jesus equate righteousness with “hunger” and “thirst”?

First of all, hunger and thirst are the keenest of our appetites. Let me tell you a story that helps us to understand.
In the Antarctic summer of 1908–1909, Sir Ernest Shackleton and three companions attempted to travel to the South Pole from their winter quarters. They set off with four ponies to help carry the load. Weeks later, their ponies dead, rations all but exhausted, they turned back toward their base, their goal not accomplished. Altogether, they trekked 127 days.
On the return journey, as Shackleton records in The Heart Of The Antarctic, the time was spent talking about food—elaborate feasts, gourmet delights, sumptuous menus. As they staggered along, suffering from dysentery, not knowing whether they would survive, every waking hour was occupied with thoughts of eating.
Jesus, who also knew the ravages of food deprivation, said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS.” We can understand Shackleton’s obsession with food, which offers a glimpse of the passion Jesus intends for our quest for righteousness.
When we have that same kind of hunger and thirst for righteousness we have no problem following God. We long for God just as the deer (or the dog) longs for that water. Just as animals understand how essential water is for them, we need to understand how essential God is for us.
That is what set Abraham apart from others. He had a longing for God.
Genesis 49:18 NIV
18 “I look for your deliverance, Lord.
Genesis 15:6 NIV
6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
In a time when men were all doing their own thing, Abraham was looking to God. Isaiah points us to Abraham as our example.
Isaiah 51:1–2 NIV
1 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; 2 look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many.
Isaiah 51:1
A desire for righteousness is not just something we do because we think it is right, it is something we long for.
Psalm 119:20 NIV
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.
Psalm 119:
Psalm 119:131 NIV
131 I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.
Now move with me back to the context of our event. Jesus is addressing a crowd of people that have come to see and hear him. They are hoping he is the promised Messiah. Some of these are Pharisees but many of these are just the ordinary, every day person going about trying to live for God the best they can with their understanding. But where have they been receiving their teaching on righteousness? From the Pharisees. Where do the Pharisees put their trust? In the Law. In fact, they so worship the law that they have beefed it up. To the original 613 Mosaic laws, they had added 1,500 fence laws. These were laws to prevent you from offending the original laws.
Most of the verbal battles (if not all), were over these so called “fence laws.” These laws had nothing to do with building a relationship with God. They were outward behaviors they could control in order to look good before other men.
The Pharisees were nothing if not zealous for the law. However, zeal can be treacherous if it is misplaced.
When we place laws before God, we often cause great devastation. These Pharisees placed burdensome boundaries on the people. These boundaries gave a means to criticize and compare their lives with the life of another in order to try to make themselves look good. Essentially, the law had become their idol. The worshipped the law more than God.
However, Jesus came freeing the people from this false righteousness.
True righteousness is not achieved through the law, but through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Bible is full of great examples of hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Let us look at a few.
2 Chronicles 15:4 NIV
4 But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them.
1 Timothy 6:11 NIV
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Paul gives us a great example in Philippians.
Philippians 3:7–11 NIV
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Phil 3:
That day on that Mount I am sure there were people that had a genuine desire for God. They did hunger and thirst but they were starving to death on the Pharisees teachings. Then Jesus enters the scene and continually points them to Himself using the great “I AM” statements revealing who He is.
John 6:48 NIV
48 I am the bread of life.
Two key ones I will note here. The first...
After feeding the 5,000 and as the Pharisees tried to compare his deed with Moses in the wilderness Jesus delivers this truth to the hunger people.
John 6:35 NIV
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
And on the great day at the Feast of Tabernacles when they poured out the water libation upon the altar and waited expectantly to hear from God Jesus stands and says,
John 7:37 NIV
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.
John 7:37–38 NIV
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
John 7:
Righteousness does not come from the law. Many people adhere every day to laws they do not really care about or do not agree with. True righteousness is found in a relationship. It is found because the soul hungers and thirsts for it. We recognize our need, our shortcomings, our undeserving nature, and we cry out with longing for God.
Isaiah 61:10–11 NIV
10 I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.
Romans 10:5–8 NIV
5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:
Romans 5:
So in this moment and time, Jesus pronounces a promise to those standing around him who hunger and thirst for this relationship with God. He says,
So in this moment and time, Jesus pronounces a promise to those standing around him who hunger and thirst for this relationship with God. He says,
Matthew 5:6 NIV
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
So in this moment and time, Jesus pronounces a promise to those standing around him who hunger and thirst for this relationship with God. He says,
Isaiah 61:10–11 NIV
10 I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.
Romans 10:5–8 NIV
5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:
So in this moment and time, Jesus pronounces a promise to those standing around him who hunger and thirst for this relationship with God. He says,
Matthew 5:6 NIV
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

What does it mean to be “filled”?

What does it mean to be “filled”?

The word used here translated “filled” means, “to feed,” “to fatten cattle” much as you would feed an animal in a stall until they are fully satisfied. In this sense it expresses “complete satisfaction of spiritual hunger and thirst.
In this sense it expresses “complete satisfaction of spiritual hunger and thirst.
These Jews had been living on the teachings of the Pharisees. This did nothing to quench their hunger and thirst. There was no hope only the condemnation of those teaching them. However, Jesus now offers them something refreshing. Something new. Something that gives hope and promise of complete satisfaction.
However, Jesus now offers them something refreshing. Something new. Something that gives hope and promise of complete satisfaction.
It means they can begin to live with righteousness, that is, in a way that pleases God and fulfills His purposes. Not only is that great news for them, but for us also.
We can do that because He gives us the ability to do it (). Rather than trying to “prove” ourselves good enough for Him or live up to impossible moral standards, we can relate to Him in love, expecting Him to help us as we make choices about how to live.
That is what we call, the “good news”. It is the “good news” because it reveals God’s right way. It tells us that He is a good God who, in love and mercy, has done something about the wrong way that the world has taken. God has provided a way for us to be saved and to be righteous so we can be in relationship with Him.
The gospel, then, is “good news” because it reveals God’s right way. It tells us that He is a good God who, in love and mercy, has done something about the wrong way that the world has taken. How have you responded to that good news of God’s righteousness?
(The Word in Life Study Bible, New Testament Edition, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville; 1993), pp. 538-539)
Look with me at just a few more verses that show what happens when we are filled with righteousness:
Psalm 40:10 NIV
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.
Psalm 40:10
Psalm 40:10 NIV
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.
We do not just sit around patiently waiting for Christ’s coming. Our life is animated with action. We want to share what Jesus has done for us and see others find it for themselves.
Romans 8:10 NIV
10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
This is great news for us today facing this Corona virus. Many of us are technically in the “at risk” column of this virus. However, we have no need to fear. Even if we do die, we win because our desire is to be with God and He promises that will happen for us. We no longer fear death as we know something better is for us on the other side of death.
This is great news for us today facing this Corona virus. Many of us are technically in the “at risk” column of this virus. However, we have no need to fear. Even if we do die, we win because our desire is to be with God and He promises that will happen for us. We no longer fear death as we know something better is for us on the other side of death.
Romans 8:10 NIV
10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
This is great news for us today facing this Corona virus. Many of us are technically in the “at risk” column of this virus. However, we have no need to fear. Even if we do die, we win because our desire is to be with God and He promises that will happen for us. We no longer fear death as we know something better is for us on the other side of death.
Ephesians 4:21–24 NIV
21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Eph
When we come to Jesus with a true desire for God, he make us new creatures. There is something different in our life now. There are so many people I remember who I have prayed with at an altar of prayer. When we were done they said, “I feel different!” That is because we are different. Jesus Spirit has taken up residence within us and begins to change us. He helps us to grow in that desire for God. We grow in righteousness. Even better yet, we continue to grow. It is not a one time experience, but as we continue to learn we grow in our faith and understanding.
John 6:35 NIV
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
The Holy Spirit now resides within us, continuing to feed us and to supply what we need.
Conclusion:
We are in the season of Lent and we take time to mourn our sin, yet even as we do, we have peace because we know that “all is well with our soul” when we have given our heart to Christ. On that day when Jesus road that donkey into the heart of Jerusalem, the crowed rejoiced, but not for the right reasons. They were not hungering and thirsting for righteousness. They were longing for retaliation and revenge over those who were in authority over them. They wanted a conqueror not a Savior. Jesus was not fooled. In fact, he wept over the fact.
Luke 19:41–44 NIV
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Things have not changed much over the years. People are still hungering and thirsting for the wrong things. Even in the church we see this. People are far more concerned with the music style, or whether or not they can have their morning coffee at church. They are more concerned that it be entertaining enough than they are if the message is Biblical. They are living very superficial lives and it shows in what they look for in a church. They do not hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Luke 19:41–44 NIV
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Luke 19:41-
We are in the season of Lent and we take time to mourn our sin, yet even as we do, we have peace because we know that “all is well with our soul” when we have given our heart to Christ. On that day when Jesus road that donkey into the heart of Jerusalem, the crowed rejoiced, but not for the right reasons. They were not hungering and thirsting for righteousness. They were longing for retaliation and revenge over those who were in authority over them. They wanted a conqueror not a Savior. Jesus was not fooled. In fact, he wept over the fact.
Luke 19:41–44 NIV
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Luke 19:
There are many in the church living very superficial lives. They do not hunger and thirst for righteousness. They give God what is left over and they try to live just enough to please Him hoping to be included on judgement day. Unfortunately, it will be too late when they stand before God and hear Him say, “Depart from me, I do not know you.”
Things have not changed much over the years. People are still hungering and thirsting for the wrong things. Even in the church we see this. People are far more concerned with the music style, or whether or not they can have their morning coffee at church. They are more concerned that it be entertaining enough than they are if the message is Biblical. They are living very superficial lives and it shows in what they look for in a church. They do not hunger and thirst for righteousness.
They do not even have time to come to church. Sabbath was a commandment from God and it included worship. Yet today people give God what is left over and they try to live just enough to please Him hoping to be included on judgement day. Unfortunately, it will be too late when they stand before God and hear Him say, “Depart from me, I do not know you.”
I like what was shared in our Lent devotional for Matthew 5:6. It told of an old children’s rhyme that goes like this.
Robin the bobbin,
the big-bellied Ben,
he ate more meat than fourscore men;
he ate a cow, he ate a calf, he ate a butcher and a half;
he ate a church, he ate a steeple, he ate the priest and all the people!
…and yet he complained that his stomach wasn’t full!
People are starved, but they keep trying to fill up on all the wrong things. Our houses are over flowing with things and toys. We are in hock up to our eyeballs trying to satisfy our hunger with things; houses, cars, recreational vehicles, electronics.
People are starved, but they keep trying to fill up on all the wrong things. Our houses are over flowing with things and toys. We are in hock up to our eyeballs trying to satisfy our hunger with things; houses, cars, recreational vehicles, electronics.
We can go to town and find any number of variety of foods to try to satisfy our taste and yet our nation is filled with people over weight as they are eating their fill and not being satisfied.
The people of our world are searching but for all the wrong things.
A Buddhist master used to share this story and I thought it was relevant to this subject:
Suppose that a warrior forgot that he was already wearing his pearl on his forehead, and sought for it somewhere else; he might search through the whole world without finding it. But if someone simply pointed it out to him, the warrior would immediately realize that the pearl had been there all the time. (Huang Po)
People around us are running and searching everywhere to try to find satisfaction. They just need someone to help them to see that they are not going to find it anywhere but where they are currently at. They just need to stop and seek God. When they do, they will find He was there all along just waiting for them to ask.
Matthew 6:33 NIV
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Isaiah 55:1–2 NIV
1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
You may attend church every week, but let me ask you an important question. When was the last time you just sat and talked to God? When was the last time you were desperate to hear from God and from His word? Our schedules have come to a screeching halt with this pandemic. Have you complained about that or did you think, “oh, what a great time to be able to spend more time with God?”
If your answer is that you have never done so or have not done so in a long time, don’t you think it is time you did? God never forces Himself on us, but He longs to be with us. He is just waiting for you to want the same thing too. He wants your hunger and thirst to draw you to Him.
Maybe you do not attend church. Maybe your life is an example of one that is scrambling, searching. Your accumulation of things, weight, or debt all show a level of dissatisfaction that is not being filled.
Allow me to offer you a chance to stop that merry-go-round existence. Stop and ask God to reveal Himself to you. Ask Him to come and fill the emptiness in your life.
If you do, you will find your answer in .
Luke 6:21 NIV
21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Luke 6:21 NIV
21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
But if you do not, your answer is found in
Luke 6:25 NIV
25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
Now is only for an earth life time, but what comes after death is eternal. Do you want your reward now or later? It is your choice.
Pray
May the peace of God go before you this week. For even in the turmoils of this world, Jesus within us grants us internal peace. I feel it! I hope you do too! God bless!
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