Bible Ballistics: BBs #487 Are YOU Hungry???

 

I love food—I like to eat out—I like to eat with others—I like to eat my own cooking—I just love food. Yet, food can be a stronghold when we don’t exercise “self” control, then it can even become an idol that we use to replace our intimacy with God. But that’s not my point for today; I want us to consider someone who had a different thought about food—Job! Job is the man we look to when we need to understand and deal with suffering and faith, but I found something many years ago that has stuck with me and I often have to revisit this principle when I am trying to live victoriously in my own issues. I hope it will speak to you today.

“But he knoweth the way

that I take:

when he hath tried me,

I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps,

his way have I kept,

and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back

from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth

more than my necessary food.” Job 23:10-12

What are you hungry for? Are you like me and wrestle with the pleasure of food? Or maybe you wrestle with something else! Regardless of your struggle, what Job says is a pure principle that will help us live victoriously whatever the area of our personal struggle! How? By “esteeming” God’s Word above all—more than our “necessary food”—in other words, Job is telling us that seeking God’s face and God’s ways is more important to him that life itself (For without ‘necessary food’ we die!)!

Paul helps us give some “feet” to this principle and I pray that we will each ponder these things as we go into this weekend (and daily) hearing from God in regard to whatever issues we may be facing.

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”   Galatians 2:20

When we die to self and live unto HIM, by HIM and through HIS power, grace and strength, we can overcome any stronghold that tries to suppress us!!! But we must keep our eyes on Jesus—not on ourselves, our food, our lusts, or our distractions–knowing that HE is all we need.

“To whom God would make known

what is the riches

of the glory of this mystery

among the Gentiles;

which is Christ in you,

the hope of glory:” Colossians 1:27

Jesus is our glory in all things, and He even told us how to make Him our priority—and this is where victory begins!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.”   Matthew 16:24

If I might make it simple—we must:

Deny “me” and acknowledge His sufficiency—

Die to “me” and live by the power of HIS cross—

Follow HIS desires not “mine”!

And when we learn to depend on Him for all we need, whether it’s our “necessary food”, or the passions that distract us, we can have victory in our daily walk with Jesus, and then we can truly join the Psalmist and embrace this truth:

“The

LORD

is

   my

shepherd;

I

   shall

  not

      want.”   Psalm 23:1

I can follow MY SHEPHERD in total confidence and with Job declare that I desire HIM and esteem HIS Word and ways “more than my necessary food”! It’s an issue of love and devotion! Are we in love with something other than Jesus first? Are we more passionate about the world or our LORD?

How hungry for HIM are YOU?

“...but Christ is all, and in all.”   Colossians 3:11b

As Paul also reminded the Romans, it’s all about Jesus:

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 11:36-12:1

Amen!