Hunger

Hunger

John 6: ⁴⁷ Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. ⁵⁰ This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

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“Of course” was my answer to the question, “Do you want to work hard to get ahead in life?” I was hungry to live “the good life” and no one could stop me. “Of course” was my answer as I contemplated sex for the first time without being married. I mean, I really wanted to, and everyone around me had already done it. “Isn’t that concept old fashioned anyway?” I rationalized.

• There have been many things I have been hungry for.
• There have been many desires I have wanted to fulfill.
• There have been many times I pushed and pushed until I got what I wanted.

JESUS explains that HE is the bread of life. HE came down from heaven to save the world from eternal separation from HIS grace. HE points out that even though the Jew’s ancestors had all of their earthly needs met, they died anyway. Did they get what they wanted? Yes. But there was so much more.

• GOD wants me to understand that my entire existence is for HIM.
• GOD wants me to have my eyes opened to the fact that HE is the only reason for everything that I do.
• GOD wants me to be hungry for HIM every day.

Desires can get in the way of a great relationship with GOD. Each time I put my desires into action without asking GOD to guide them, I fail miserably. GOD has a spiritual plan for me that is manifested physically, emotionally, psychologically and philosophically.

HE knew I would never choose HIM so HE put a plan into action that could not fail. HE gave HIS own life for me. HE made my life simple. Believe in HIM and live. I am glad HE accepts me with my flaws.

• What are your desires?
• Do you crave something that you should be giving to GOD and allowing HIM to say “No” or “wait” or “yes” to?
• Will you stop thinking GOD is made for you and allow HIM to grow you into the fact that you are made for HIM?

Fine Print

Luke 4: ⁵ Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶ And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. ⁷ Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

⁸ And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

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“Just hang with me and you will be alright” was the promise from one of the higher ups to me. At dinner, he drank until he could hardly speak and flirted with the wait staff.  As I walked him and others to his suite in the convention hotel and he suggested we do this again tomorrow only this time bring more people so we could really party.

• There were times when I had to decide between career and virtues.
• There were times when I had to decide between money and character.
• There were times when I had to decide between the crowd and the lone trail.

As a human JESUS was relegated to decide between supernatural comforts of life versus an uncomfortable low quality human existence. Greed, power, fame and lust were now possibilities presented to JESUS BUT HE knew that the fine print of the contract would cause all humans to be lost.

• JESUS wants me to decide to follow HIM versus the very tempting roads presented to me.
• JESUS wants me to decide to follow HIM versus the blind road the world presents.
• JESUS wants me to decide to follow HIM versus following the fears of money, the lusts for power, and the desires of constant pleasure.

Some of the temptations sound perfectly fine and logical. I mean who wouldn’t want riches and the ability to satisfy any lust one could imagine? GOD says to me “Control yourself and follow MY lead so you may be protected from the world.”

People may laugh at this choice because it doesn’t look “successful.” BUT GOD loves when I follow HIM and ignore the jeers from those who poke fun at my plain life. Being amazed at GOD daily is more important than people temporarily following me for my five minutes of fame.

• Are you seeking fame and power?
• Do you think you would be better off if you were extremely wealthy?
• Can you stop trying to fix your problems with money and give all your issues to the LORD who knows just what to do with them?

Absolute Power

Matthew 27: ³² As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. ³³ They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). ³⁴ There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵ When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. ³⁶ And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.³⁷ Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

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“One day I will get big and be able to fight back” I said to myself as I stepped into the gym.  Tired of being pushed around, I was motivated to pile on the muscles necessary to pound someone in the face if provoked. When I stepped into a bar with my lifting buddies, I could tell something was different this time. I think we are about to get into a fight. I said to myself.

• Three were times I wanted to be the intimidator instead of being intimidated.
• There were times I wanted to be in power instead of “them.”
• There were times I wanted to be the one on top and have the rest on the bottom.

Intimidation was the weapon of choice the soldiers used when walking through the city with JESUS. They forced a man named Simon to carry JESUS’s cross. I saw the word “they” used in this passage a lot and never in a good context. It seemed like the soldiers had absolute power. BUT GOD says something different.

• GOD says to me “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
• GOD says to me “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of GOD, that HE may exalt you in due time.”
• GOD says to me “I AM your strength in weakness.”

Power causes corruption and absolute power causes absolute corruption, except when speaking about GOD. HE does hold absolute power except HIS is based with love. HE is in control of all and wants all to be with HIM. HE never intimidates or bullies me into believing in HIS murdered SON. HE quietly cares for me and gently restores me. I am blessed by GOD.

• Are you seeking power?
• Do you want your way so bad that you desire a title?
• Will you seek GOD first and allow HIM to raise you up in HIS time, HIS way?