Hunger and thirst
I cannot get away from this theme. From the longing for Him. For His Word. The hunger in my spirit not satisfied, the thirst of my soul not slaked. Only in Him. Oh, only Him.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
John 6:35
This can be such a hard concept to absorb. If you have been in Christendom for a long time, you fluff it off. Nod in sage agreement.
Belonging
Yet, we hunger for so much. To be loved, to be heard, to be seen, to belong. We thirst for significance, for meaning, for authentic relationships, for comfort and for peace.
In Christ we find these things. But it’s not automatic. No waving of a wand.
Take the time
If we are hungry, we must stop, sit down and eat. And, we need to prepare the food. Then with others, share conversation, savour flavours. Take in nourishment.
If we are thirsty, we go fill our glasses and drink till we are sated, satisfied. We lift a glass in celebration, or we drink the cup of sorrow. We do this together.
Jesus says, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63. It echoes, resonates; “My Words are spirit and life.” So like Ezekiel of old, we eat His Words. (Ezkekiel 3:3) They bring sustenance, delight, encouragement, correction. Still, we must stop, sit down, take time.
Hungry and thirsty
I drink deeply of His Spirit. The thirst in my soul watered by His strength, peace and comfort. I drink in the words He whispers. Stop, fill my cup, lift it up and He fills it, again and again.
Today, I go to the Bread of Life to be filled.
Today, I drink of His Spirit.
For, His Words are spirit and life.