THE POWER OF HUNGER
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:1-12
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. - Matthew 5:6
Hunger is an intense craving for food while thirst is a painful need for water. Hunger heightens your appetite, sharpens your senses and drives your pursuits. Once you lose your hunger for life, you will not pursue anything. Nothing seems to matter any more. Jesus commended those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. This means that righteous living does not come passively. The desire for it must be intense. Similarly if you hunger and thirst after evil you will be med with it. Whatever you hunger for will fill you.
Luke 1:53 says “He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty." God sends those who feel that they have it all away, empty. However, He always fills those who yearn for Him with good things. How do we cultivate hunger? We must consistently focus our prayer on knowing the ways of God. We must intensely search for it. Finally, we must have a childlike fascination, an attitude that makes room for new experiences.
Four Things To Hunger After
- Righteousness: (Matthew 6:33) We must desire to have the right standing with God. When we make money our focus, we easily make mistakes. Our primary focus must be the kingdom of God.
- Wisdom: Wisdom is the principal thing (Proverbs 4:7). We must therefore, hunger for understanding in all aspects of our lives.
- Fruitfulness: John 15:16 reminds us that He chose us to go out and bear fruit. We must desire to live productively and show results.
- Excellence: Philippians 3:12-14 reminds us that we have not yet attained. We must pursue excellence and reach beyond the average.
Prayer: Lord, stir up in my heart an unfailing desire for your kingdom and for righteousness.
