Hunger And Thirst Of God's Word

Now that Thanksgiving Day has come and we have eaten our share of bountiful food, let us turn our minds to the bountifulness of God's Word. As we know, God's Word often describes our longing for God as a deep hunger or thirst. Hunger and thirst are basic drives we all experience, and there is also a hunger and thirst within our spirit. This fallen world can never satisfy, but we keep going back to it, as if it can. We set our sights on the objects of a thousand different desires, none of which give us the lasting pleasure we long for.

The following passages remind us of what we really crave, and what will satisfy our deepest longings:

 

• "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for thee, O God, for the living God" (Psalm 42:1-2)

• "My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee, in a dry and weary land where there is not water" (Psalm 63:1)

• "O taste and see that the Lord is good." (Psalm 34:8)

• "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6)

• "Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture said, streams of living water will flow from him'" (John 7:37)

• "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost form the spring of the water of life" (Revelation 21:6)

• "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life" (Revelation 22:17)

We long for God's Word, the truth which is an extension of Himself, that clarifies and explains, and shows us life as it really is, not as it is constantly misperceived. The world leaves us empty and unsatisfied, but there is an eternal sweetness to God's Word.

 

We are to develop a taste for God's Word, for it is as desirable and essential for our growth; as eating healthy food and exercising regularly are. If we develop a habit of daily meditating on God's Word, we will deeply appreciate it, realize our need for it, and miss it deeply whenever we are away from it too long.

If we are not craving God's Word, we have forgotten what we are missing—or perhaps we have never known. If that's the case, dive into it and stick to it like you would with eating healthy and exercising regularly.