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75. What Do You Long For?


Matthew 5:6, Luke 6:21, Psalm 63
Key Verse:  My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You. 
Psalm 63:5

What are you hungry for, really?  When that question is addressed to our physical interests, we seem to have no shortage of answers.  Some of us like Chinese food, while others prefer Mexican.  Some prefer sweets, while others, like me, prefer the salty foods such as chips and crackers.  We have no problem finding food to satisfy our physical appetites and, as a result, most of us Westerners are overweight and out of shape. 

How sad then that, for spiritual food, where the selection is God's Word itself, so many of us are malnourished.  It's the one food craving that He promises to fulfill, yet too many of us do not accept His offer, preferring instead the items that do not satisfy and will only have to be supplied again.  If only we were as concerned about satisfying the longing of our souls as we are motivated to fill our stomachs. 

Again, Jesus turns our perspective upside down by calling us to meet the need of what is truly important.  O, that we could pray with the Psalmist, "O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”  (Psalm 63:1) That is what the world is to us.  It is a spiritually dry and weary land, when we don’t know Him.  But God promises to come and fill us with Himself, if we will come to Him and seek His righteousness over our selfishness. 

When He met the woman at the well, (John 4:1-26, Day 54) Jesus told her, "Whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give will become in that person a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  (John 4:14B)  Now He says that anyone who hungers and thirsts for righteousness, His way of doing things, will be satisfied.  He longs to bless us with this because it is a blessing of His mind and soul.  Do you hunger to serve God?  Do you hunger to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant?”  That's the hunger that will be satisfied as you pursue Him. 

Fast from food, if you must, but use that time to Feast on Him, seek Him while He may be found.  You will not be disappointed, for He has promised, "You will be satisfied.” 

Hymn: "You Satisfy the Hungry Heart”

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