BLESSED ARE THE HUNGRY
JOSHUA 1:5-8
Jesus himself combats the temptations of Satan even amidst his very real, physical hunger by saying “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). So may we hunger and thirst for the Word of God—the only thing that will fill our soul-deep longings.
In John chapter 6, Jesus was teaching a group of over 5,000 people who were hanging onto his every word. But the crowd was hungry and there was not enough food. So, in an extraordinary miracle, Jesus fed them all, satisfying their hungry bellies. However, just a day later everything changes. The very same crowd who yesterday ate and got filled of miracle-bread came again to hear the Savior speak. But this time it was a hard teaching. “I am the bread of life,” Jesus boldly declares. “Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (vs. 35).
Hesitant to be challenged by his exclusive claims, the crowd (including some of Jesus’ own close followers) turns away. They will find somewhere else to fill their hunger—perhaps from some place or person who doesn’t demand so much of them. Undeterred, Jesus turns to the twelve who remain: “Do you want to go away as well?” he asks (vs. 67). Always the first to reply, Simon Peter answered and said “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (vs. 68).
Many people are hungry, but most times we fill our bellies with whatever we can think of to gain momentary relief and satisfaction. We fill them with work, we fill them with pleasures, fun activities, delicious food, sometime we even go shopping, sometime we fill them with approval of men. Jeremiah 15 writes: “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts” (Jer. 15:16). The psalmist declares that God’s Word and promises are the very things that nourish, sustain, and uphold him (Psalm 119:92-93, 116). May we come to know him more to the point that we are so fully content in him that we desire nothing else.
MEDITATION: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life
