What Are YOU Hungry For??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #90

I was raised in a family that loves to eat–it’s kind of the family joke that it’s in our “genes”, and that’s why we often don’t fit into our “jeans” (and my sister or I don’t’ even wear jeans!!ha ha)!  But the point is we like good food; and probably you do too, but my question isn’t really about cuisine–but something else!

“Blessed are they

which do hunger

and thirst

after righteousness:

for they shall be filled.”   Matthew 5:6

 We talked recently about the “be-attitudes”, and this is one of them–our attitude, our appetites, and our affinities are to be ‘grounded’ in Jesus!  Scripture is replete with instructions about setting our “attitudes” IN, ON, WITH, FOR, AND THROUGH Jesus, His Word, and HIS ways!

“If ye then be risen with Christ,

seek those things which are above,

where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection

on things above,

not on things on the earth…

…14 And above all these things

put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God

rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called in one body;

and be ye thankful.”   Colossians 3:1-2, 14-15

We are called to “seek those things which are above”–as Jesus said, “hunger and thirst after righteousness”! We are to have our appetites set on the spiritually healthy things–Jesus!  Are you letting the junk food of the world ruin your appetite!  Just as we don’t let our children fill up on ice cream or candy just before we have a nutritious meal prepared, we are to guard our hearts and minds to keep our attitudes, our appetites, and our affinities set on Jesus!

Paul’s prayer for the Colossians is a great place to set our sights, for ourselves as well as to pray for our loved ones!

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it,

do not cease to pray for you,

and to desire

that ye might be filled

with the knowledge of his will

in all wisdom

and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord

unto all pleasing,

being fruitful

in every good work,

and increasing

in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might,

according to his glorious power,

unto all patience

and longsuffering

with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet to be partakers

of the inheritance

of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness

of sins:

15 Who is the image

of the invisible God,

the firstborn

of every creature:

16 For by him

were all things created,

that are in heaven,

and that are in earth,

visible and invisible,

whether they be thrones,

or dominions,

or principalities,

or powers:

all things were created by him,

and for him:

17 And he is before all things,

and by him

all things consist.”   Colossians 1:9-17

I have some homework for you this week; I encourage you to take each phrase of this passage in Colossians 1, and pray it before God and ask HIM how you need to apply it to your life–today…today…today and each today before you, right where you are!  May we each grow in grace and dependence upon Christ and HIS righteousness!

“For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

Amen and Amen!!!