By Debbie Christopher ~~Are you Hungry? I dropped a hint in my Christmas blog that I may return to the ‘desires of the heart’ theme in January. But, since I already covered part of this in 'A Country Walk' a couple of years ago—- and I was impressed to include a passage that challenged my heart in a recent Bible Study lesson—-I deleted all I had done and decided to start over. So, welcome to the similar phrase ‘hunger and thirst’.
When you are 'starved' and ‘dying’ of thirst, do you not strongly desire food and drink? I remember a return flight from a mission trip to Costa Rica that had so many changes and delays that eventually led to a less than 4 hour trip—-so no breakfast nor lunch! Throw in standing in line and time changes, it ended up that we had gone almost 24 hours without a meal. I was hungry (hangry?) and had ended up eating the souvenir snacks in my carry-on by the final flight into Miami. I desired food!
Our ladies are currently beginning Jen Wilkin’s Sermon on the Mount Bible Study*… which starts with a study of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). Since I have been working on the phrase ‘desires of my heart’, verse 6 really stood out:
”“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.“
Matthew 5:6 ESV
As we dug into the phrase, ‘hunger and thirst for righteousness’, we were directed to consider Jesus' words from John 4:10-14 and John 6 to see reference to Jesus being the One we hunger for and thirst after. We also recognize from Scripture that our righteousness can only found through Christ. Our own righteousness will never be sufficient enough to receive God’s grace.
But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us — our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.“
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 HCSB
As Matthew 5:6 continues, we see that only by hungering for and thirsting after His righteousness will our desires truly be satisfied. Thus, the promise of Psalm 37:4---discussed in the Christmas blog---can be fulfilled in our lives…
"Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.”
Psalms 37:4 HCSB
When we delight in—-hunger and thirst for His righteousness—-, and, desire to be made holy—-made pure in God’s eyes through His righteousness—-we will be blessed and satisfied with God’s plan and purpose for our life. Then, we can say “Okay, God” rather than “Whoa, God” as we face the bumps along our path.**
Eat up!
~Debbie
*Jen Wilken, Sermon on the Mount, Brentwood, TN:Lifeway Press. 2024
**Sharon Czerwien and Kelly Dean, CORE:Biblical Principles for when Life gets Bumpy. Maitland, FL: Xulon Press, 2021