|
Etymology: Middle English,
from Old English hungor; akin to Old High German hungar hunger,
Lithuanian kanka torture
1 a : a craving or urgent need for food or a specific nutrient
b : an uneasy sensation occasioned by the lack of food c :
a weakened condition brought about by prolonged lack of food 2 :
a strong desire :
CRAVING
Luke 4:4 (KJV)
And Jesus answered him,
saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
of God.
When one
is physically hungry very little is allowed to stand in the way of the
satisfaction of that hunger. If one becomes hungry enough, he or she will steal,
put him or herself at risk to satisfy that hunger. Starvation holds very little
appeal.
But some
become confused and consider starving themselves as normal. We refer to that as
anorexia nervosa. Those who binge on food and later purge that food are said to
be bulimic. We’ve seen pictures of emaciated bodies—people who have removed
themselves from all appropriate social interaction, and who live with their
thoughts consumed by either food intake or the rejection thereof.
Tragically, the same is true spiritually. Some fail to realize they are
malnourished; some are so satiated with worldly pursuits that they have no
hunger for spiritual things, and their lives, fruit, and very countenance
demonstrate that they are full of wrong food, or lack true spiritual
nourishment. Some even reject the food God tries to give them by their rebellion
and sin against God. Some reject God by their worldliness, or some may belittle
the spiritual food God could give them by never being in the Word—never reading
the Bible for personal strength and edification, never spending time in prayer,
never making time for genuine Christian fellowship. Even though they may fill a
space in the pew, their lives declare their lack of hunger for Jesus and His
life, presence, and Word.
With our
proclivity toward entertainment and “event” Christianity, it sometimes seems
that very few are hungry for dedicated, set-apart, spiritual life and walking
with Jesus. Few are hungry to commit themselves to Jesus, to weekly
church attendance, to personal devotion. Few really even consider, much less
desire to consider, craving to hear a fresh personal word from God for their
lives.
I urge you—if lack of hunger is a phrase that describes you—REPENT, ask Jesus to
forgive you, take time to talk to Him and then LISTEN. Be hungry for His Word;
let Him speak to you. Attend a BIBLE believing and BIBLE teaching Church—so that
your heart and soul may truly be nourished and satisfied from His Word. Be more
hungry for His presence and His Word than you are for natural food.
Truly,
be HUNGRY. |